Alleged Shooter Denied Bail in 2 Cases

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A 34-year-old man was denied bail on Sept. 17 in connection to a non-fatal shooting and an attempted murder that occurred within a week of each other last year.

Michael Nichols, a Baltimore resident, was called before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr., on Friday for incidences on July 29 and Aug. 4, 2020. Nichols faces assault, reckless endangerment, and firearm charges in both cases as well as attempted murder and property destruction charges in the latter case.

During Friday’s bail review, defense attorney Michael Tomko informed the court that Nichols’ only prior brush with the law was an assault conviction 10 years ago for which he received time served and successfully completed probation.

Defense attorney Lawrence Rosenberg also represents Nichols, according to the Maryland Judiciary website, but he wasn’t present on Friday. Nichols was previously denied bail for both cases in March.

Nichols’ latest cases were directly alcohol-related, Tomko said, as his client was diagnosed with alcohol-induced psychosis.

Tomko said the first incident occurred in July 2020 when Nichols allegedly fired a gun in the air at an auto repair shop because he was upset about a vehicle that wasn’t fixed. The second incident occurred less than a week later when Nichols was at a towing facility and began arguing with a mechanic.

In August 2020, Nichols was allegedly upset about a vehicle that was towed, the defense attorney said, and began physically fighting with the victim. The victim then hit the defendant with a stapler, and Nichols got in a car and fired a gun at the victim, striking a soda machine.

“He may not ordinarily act in such a way,” said Tomko, referring to his client’s medical diagnosis. “He was so intoxicated he couldn’t speak clearly to police.”

Tomko recommended a strict level of home detention and in-patient treatment.

The prosecution countered that Nichols should be held without bail. In the first case, he said, Nichols allegedly threatened to kill a mechanic and then fired the gun. A few days later, at the towing facility, the defendant allegedly punched the victim prior to a physical fight.

Judge Taylor denied bail, deeming Nichols a threat to society and a flight risk. Nichols is scheduled for reception court on Dec. 8.

The defendant previously appeared in reception court on Aug. 23 when he rejected a plea of 12 years for first-degree assault, and five years without parole for firearm use in a violent crime regarding the July 2020 case. Rosenberg rejected the plea on his client’s behalf.

Nichols also declined to waive his Hick’s date last month, but Judge Melissa M. Phinn found probable cause to delay the trial due to counsels’ conflicting schedules.