Accused Shooter Never Aimed at Victims in Rec Center Shooting, Defense Argues

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Trevon Moore should not have had a gun on him, let alone fired the weapon, inside the Roosevelt Park Recreation Center last January, defense attorney Lawrence Rosenberg said before a jury on Jan. 10. Yet, what defense counsel described as “a rash decision” does not make his client guilty of attempted murder.

The 19-year-old defendant’s jury trial began Wednesday morning before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton. The attempted murder, assault and weapons charges against Moore stem from a non-fatal shooting inside the recreation center’s gym on the 1200 block of West 36th Street on Jan. 24, 2023.

The incident in question occurred around 3 p.m. in the gym, where there was “a commotion of some sort,” the prosecutor told jurors during his opening statement. Surrounded by children and young adults, Moore then took out his gun and fired one time in the direction of two male victims.

The assistant state’s attorney said these victims, who were never identified, were not injured; however, video surveillance footage captured the shooting. When he was interviewed by officers with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the prosecutor noted that Moore identified himself in photos that were taken from the video footage.

“When you aim and shoot a firearm, your intention is to kill,” he concluded.

Although Rosenberg acknowledged there was no doubt his client “obviously made a terrible decision” by having and firing a gun, the defense attorney said the jury will see that Moore actually fired the gun in the air. Jurors, then, should not expect to see any evidence of attempted murder or assault.

Over the course of the trial, the Academy of College and Career Exploration vice principal, a recreation center employee and a BPD officer and detective are expected to testify.

Moore’s charges include attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a firearm, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammo and discharging firearms as well as two counts of having a handgun within 100 yards of a public place.