Defense Claims Victim Attacked Defendant With Knife Before Shooting

By Andrew Michaels - March 19, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Living in an area of West Baltimore filled with vacant homes, 63-year-old Antonio Fitzhugh was defending himself when the alleged victim attacked him with a knife, Fitzhugh’s defense counsel said during his client’s bench trial on March 19.

On June 27, 2023, Fitzhugh was acting as the “lone neighborhood watch” near his home on the 800 block of West Lanvale Street, where the defendant frequently alerted the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to crime in the area. Defense attorney Martin Cohen told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey M. Geller on Tuesday that his client was attacked by the male victim who “lunged at him with a knife.” Fitzhugh—who Cohen said was unable to run away given a medical condition—then shot the man once in his left leg.

Fitzhugh was a licensed gun owner, the defense attorney noted.

“He had to do it because he had no other option,” Cohen said.

Earlier in the proceeding, the prosecution declined to give an opening statement.

According to charging documents, a witness and the victim were standing under the porch of a vacant home to get out of the rain when Fitzhugh, who lived nearby, came outside and told them to leave. The two men complied; however, the defendant and the victim continued to argue, which escalated when Fitzhugh allegedly shot the victim.

Police and the witness will testify during Fitzhugh’s trial, which is expected to conclude Tuesday afternoon. The defendant’s charges include attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle and firing a gun in Baltimore City as well as two counts of reckless endangerment.