Attempted Homicide Defendant Chooses Jury Trial Over 30 Year Plea Offer

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Attempted homicide defendant Damian Palmer rejected a prosecutor’s plea offer for the second time on Oct. 6, setting the stage for a jury trial in January 2024.

The 49-year-old defendant is currently charged with an attempted murder on March 25 for an incident on the 7200 block of Harford Road.

During Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn’s reception court on Friday, the prosecution, once again, presented its offer of 65 years, suspending all but 30 years, for attempted first-degree murder, a concurrent five years without parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime and a consecutive five years without parole for possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

Palmer, who is represented by defense attorney James Sweeting III, rejected the offer and was given a trial date of Jan. 10, 2024, before Baltimore City Circuit Judge John A. Howard. The trial is expected to last three days.

Charging documents state Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers were called to the scene and found the victim with gunshot wounds to his right hand, abdomen and knee. The victim told police he was shot after the suspect asked him, “What are you doing near my car?”

The suspect, later identified as Palmer, was identified through a photo array.

Palmer is also facing charges of attempted second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, having a gun within 100 yards of a public place, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle and firing a gun in Baltimore City.

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