Accused Shooter’s Hearing Postponed after Defendant Became Agitated with Case’s Progress

By Andrew Michaels , Noa Gelb [former] - January 12, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 32-year-old attempted murder suspect’s reception court hearing was postponed a week on Jan. 11 after he became agitated with the progress of his case.

During Wednesday’s hearing, an assistant state’s attorney offered Larry Jackson a plea of 30 years, suspending all but 15 years, for attempted first-degree murder; a concurrent 15 years, suspending all but five years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime; and a concurrent 15 years, suspending all but five years, the first five years without parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

This plea was rejected by the defendant and defense attorney Linda Zeit, who stood in for James Sweeting III.

Jackson is also charged with attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, two counts of having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, discharging firearms, and three counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on July 23, 2022.

As Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn and counsel began discussing potential trial dates, Jackson became agitated and demanded a new attorney when the judge mentioned scheduling the trial in August. Shortly after, Jackson was removed from the Zoom call and the case was scheduled to return to reception court on Jan. 17 to set a trial date.

According to charging documents, the victim told Baltimore Police that he was coming home from work on the 1800 block of McCulloh Street where a man on a bicycle pulled out a gun and fired four to five shots at him. The victim ducked behind a car and was not injured.

The victim also told police that he recognized the shooter as a drug dealer in the area.The following day, the victim called police to say he saw the suspect standing on the back porch of a home on the 400 block of Wilson Street.

The suspect, later identified as Jackson, was arrested later that day.