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By
Racquel Bazos [former]
- May 17, 2024
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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The trial of a defendant who allegedly followed and shot two Royal Farms customers, killing one last July began May 14.
Reginald Whitaker is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, having a handgun on his person, attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery and robbery in connection to the July 3, 2023, death of 33-year-old Traquarn Lewis and the shooting of another man.
The prosecutor told jurors in Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer’s courtroom that Whitaker wore a bright yellow T-shirt, making him easily traceable between surveillance and Ring camera footage before and after the incident. She said Whitaker watched Lewis buy iced tea and cigarettes inside the Royal Farms on the 2000 block of Fleet Street before following him outside, shooting him three times just a few doors down the street.
From there, Whitaker allegedly ran away with a silver handgun visible in his hand before following, shooting and robbing his second victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg about 15 minutes later. The prosecutor said a firearms expert would testify that the shell casings from both crime scenes were consistent with being shot from the same gun.
Defense attorney James Sweeting III told jurors to “pay close attention to all of the evidence,” and especially to “conflicts” in the presented evidence. He also questioned the Baltimore Police Department’s (BPD) decision to connect these two shootings.
The trial continued Wednesday.