The attempted murder trial for 26-year-old Eshawn Jones began Sept. 18, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie Hong.
Jones is charged with first degree attempted murder, first degree assault, and conspiracy to commit first degree assault. Also use of firearms in violent crime and conspiracy to use firearms in violent crime, attempted armed carjacking, conspiracy to commit armed carjacking. Armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, loaded handgun on a person and lastly Reckless Endangerment.
Jones is charged with shooting an 18-year-old man in the neck during a carjacking attempt that occurred over four years ago on the 100 block of N. Smallwood Street. The incident unfolded shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2022.
That’s when police responded to shots fired at the 2100 block of Vine Street and found a male suffering from one gunshot wound to the back. Officers pulled the him from the vehicle and the teen was taken to the hospital.
He now suffers from paralysis in both arms.
Jones was taken into custody on March 1, 2025, over three years after the incident, following a tip from an alleged accomplice, 22-year-old Markia Vaughn.
Vaughn was arrested for a separate shooting in Cherry Hill last July and sentenced to 40 years of active incarceration last December. At the time, Vaughn had accepted a plea agreement and was awaiting sentencing for her involvement in the Smallwood Street incident.
The state said three things tipped them off during the investigation. First a woman walking toward the victim’s car, then the alleged co-conspirators, including the woman, going to a house together.
A red hoodie allegedly recovered during a search warrant belonged to the shooter, according to the woman.
During a search, detectives upstairs found the red hoodie and the defendant in the basement in a pile of laundry.
Procecutors concluded, “Markia is currently doing 40 years for this crime she committed and her partner was the defendant, Eshawn Jones.”
“That’s a lie,” were the defense’s first words. Defense attorney William Porter said Vaughn was offered a plea deal for her testimony in this case and she was released.
After that she allegedly shot a man seven times in the stomach. That’s why she’s currently serving 40 years.
The victim was shown a lineup of six men, including Jones. He identified two men who he says “looks like him”. Jones was neither of those men as the shooter.
The state called Markia Vaughn who confirmed that she and the victim went to high school together. She knew Jones through her child’s father. She said the victim received a new car for his eighteenth birthday which was the motive for the crime.
The victim, reputedly drove Markia to her child’s father’s house, saying she was going to get weed, and was going to give him gas money. Also promising sexual favors.
The victim felt “uneasy” as he waited for Markia to return, and when she did two men came from the alley toward the .
The victim said that in this moment he saw a gun in his face and heard “run ya s**t”. At that moment the victim pulled off and crashed into a nearby house. The victim testified to feeling a pluck on his shoulder before he crashed.
On cross-examination, Porter noted the message when Vaughn said she is going to “stab him up”. Vaughn said she didn’t want to kill him, just wanted the car. When asked, was your child’s father a factor in you doing this, Markia said, yes, insisting she didn’t testify to reduce her sentence.
The last witness was the paralyzed victim needing 24 hour care. He said he and Markia weren’t best friends, but when she wanted to hang out he wasn’t surprised.
He was surprised by her message about the prospects for sex and decided to meet. He arrived at 7:02 p. m, and she gave the address to her child’s father’s house. He texted Marika multiple times saying she was taking too long. When asked why he didn’t leave her, he said “She’s my friend, I didn’t want to leave her.”
Markia returned to the car at 8:59 p. m.
On cross the victim confirmed when shown a picture of Jones, he did not recognize him. Defense attorney Porter showed the victim the photos again, but he still doesn’t recognize Jones as the shooter.
Trial is set to continue Sept. 21
