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By
Ethan Russo
- July 24, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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During closing arguments, counsel debated whether 50-year-old Joseph Walker was an accomplice to a murder in East Baltimore.
Walker is charged with first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery, firearm use in a violent crime, and conspiracy to commit all other counts in connection with an incident on Dec. 16, 2023, on the 1800 block of Aiken Street. Marvin Jackson, 26, was allegedly shot, murdered, and robbed by Walker’s co-defendant Joseph Coates.
Before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays, the prosecution emphasized the importance of video footage apparently showing Walker approaching Jackson on the night of the incident, intending to purchase heroin. Walker is seen moments later walking behind Jackson before the latter is shot by a man just out of frame.
An eyewitness later identified the shooter as Coates.
The prosecution noted that Walker’s interview with detectives shortly after the homicide contradicted the video footage.
According to the prosecution, the footage shows both Walker and Coates fleeing together and entering the same vehicle, indicating that the crime was coordinated. Although Walker did not pull the trigger himself, he is still guilty of murder as an accomplice, the prosecutor said.
In her closing argument, defense attorney Staci Pipkin noted that the incident occurred at the height of Walker’s drug addiction. During the time of the incident and his statement to police, Walker was under the influence of heroin.
According to Pipkin, although Walker and Coates were in the same vehicle, only Coates possessed the firearm used in the shooting. Video evidence appears to confirm that Walker never came into contact with the gun. Both the murder and robbery were committed by Coates, she said.
No evidence suggests that Walker ordered, aided, agreed, or was even aware that Coates intended to murder Jackson, Pipkin told the jury. The charges of conspiracy cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, she said.
In response, the prosecution reemphasized Walker’s calmness immediately following the shooting, which, the prosecutor said, would be unexpected if he were unaware that Coates planned to kill Jackson.
Additionally, Walker’s addiction at the time of the incident does not signify that he could not have been an accomplice to the murder, nor does it exempt him from all culpability, the prosecutor continued.
Jury deliberations began on July 24.