Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict for Homicide Defendant

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On July 17, a 23-year-old homicide defendant was found guilty in one of the cases against him, but partially acquitted in another by a jury before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong.

Jared Ford was found guilty of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun on his person, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection to an incident on Feb. 26, 2023.

Ford was also found guilty of first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle, two counts of having a loaded handgun in a vehicle and having a loaded handgun on his person for an incident on March 2, 2023. He was acquitted of attempted first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. There was no verdict reached on the counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction and illegal possession of a firearm.

In closing arguments on July 15, the prosecution played a phone call Ford made to his girlfriend after the police arrested him on March 3, 2023. During the phone call, Ford told his girlfriend to not “snitch” on him.

Defense attorney Roya Hanna’s argued Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives did not obtain DNA evidence from the cars involved in the cases, creating reasonable doubt as to whether Ford was in the cars.

According to prior coverage, in opening statements, the prosecution said on Feb. 26, 2023, three shooters went to the 5500 block of Bowleys Lane, where they allegedly shot at three people after running across a field, one of the victims, 23-year-old Mason Kelly, was killed and the other two were shot in the leg. On March 2, 2023, another man was shot in the leg.