Jury Finds Man Guilty of Killing Baltimore Police Officer, Second Victim in 2021

By Andrew Michaels - March 6, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Hours of deliberation in the trial of Elliot Marcus Knox concluded on March 6 when a jury found the 34-year-old defendant guilty for the murders of Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley and Baltimore resident Justin Johnson in December 2021.

Knox was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in addition to firearm use in a felony or violent crime in connection to Johnson’s death, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a loaded handgun on his person and in a vehicle.

The jury found Knox not guilty of firearm use in a felony or violent crime for Holley’s death.

The verdict comes two days after the prosecution and defense attorney Natalie Finegar concluded their arguments before the jury and Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer. Earlier on Wednesday, Judge Schiffer required the jury to continue to deliberate. The jurors were unanimous on all but one charge.

At the conclusion of testimony on March 4, the prosecutor said the defendant’s strategy was to “admit what you must [and] deny what you can” when Knox was questioned by the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). It was these countless lies to police about the double homicide that the prosecution said refuted defense counsel’s argument that Knox was only an accessory after the fact.

The prosecutor reminded the jury that Knox initially told police he had no idea what they were talking about in regards to the shootings that occurred within 90 minutes of each other on Dec. 16, 2021. Knox slowly began to admit to his involvement after learning more information from police.

“[The defendant] didn’t tell them the truth because he knew what he did,” the prosecutor exclaimed. “He knew what he did with [co-defendant Travon Shaw] and couldn’t tell them that.”

The prosecutor explained Knox first told police he wasn’t in the area of either shooting; however, his statement changed when police mentioned cell phone evidence allegedly placing the defendant in the area. Although neither shooting was captured on video, a motion-activated camera on Hazel Street—adjacent to the 4400 block of Pennington Avenue where Holley’s patrol car was parked—reportedly shows Knox and Shaw walking in the area around the time of the shooting.

“This was a hit,” the prosecutor said. “[Holley] was targeted. Somehow they knew where she was. … They executed her in her car while she worked.”

Less than 90 minutes later, Knox and Shaw were accused of shooting up Johnson’s vehicle on the 600 block of Lucia Avenue, striking the 38-year-old man from opposite sides.

“They both shot at different angles to make sure [Johnson] was dead,” the prosecution said.

Keeping the discussion on the subject of trust, Finegar asked the jury why they shouldn’t believe what her client told police.

“The cascade of evidence in this case comes from Mr. Knox,” she added, saying the defendant told police where to find the murder weapons and Shaw as well as the passcode to his own cell phone. “…He’s not a hitman. He’s a person who made some bad decisions. He’s a person who got caught up in a bad situation.”

Finegar also questioned the prosecution’s argument that there were two shooters at Lucia Avenue. Defense counsel referred the jury to one of the prosecution’s witnesses who testified that one of the guns used to kill Johnson could’ve jammed, requiring the same shooter use another gun.

There was no premeditation or aiding and abetting from the defendant, she concluded.