Attempted Murder Defendant Accused of Shooting ‘The Wire’ Actor Awaits Jury’s Verdict

By Andrew Michaels - May 4, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The fate of 39-year-old Domonic White rests in the hands of a jury who began deliberations on May 4 after a three-day trial when counsel argued whether the defendant shot his long-time friend, Chris Clanton, an actor from HBO’s “The Wire.”

White is charged with attempted first-degree murder among other charges for allegedly shooting Clanton on the 4100 block of Eierman Avenue on April 29, 2021.

During closing arguments on Wednesday, the prosecutor walked the jury through the incident, which began with a group of people, including White, standing outside and preparing to watch the NFL draft. Clanton, who was on the block visiting his mother, approached the group, she said, and “was genuinely happy to see [White]” as they had not seen each other for nine or 10 years.

Clanton was accompanied by his 5-year-old son.

The prosecutor told the jury that Clanton became confused when White “gave him the cold shoulder,” and the two then stepped aside from the group to talk. It was at that time when White allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Clanton in his left ear.

“He still has bullet fragments in his head,” the prosecutor said. “While the victim was wondering why the defendant was giving him the cold shoulder, the defendant thought about pulling a gun out and shooting him.”

With Clanton on the ground, White was allegedly ready to shoot him again when officers with the Baltimore Police Department arrived at the scene. The prosecutor noted that the officers were at the 7-Eleven off of Belair Road when they heard gunfire and responded.

The prosecutor reviewed evidence against the defendant, including video surveillance that placed White in the area before and after the shooting. The defendant’s blue Pontiac was also found in a nearby parking lot with his cell phone inside.

Following the state’s arguments, defense attorney Roland Brown picked through the prosecution’s case to discredit their witnesses.

Brown began with Clanton who testified that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the shooting—a statement that Brown said was false, according to the victim’s medical records.

“Why did he lie to you? Are you going to believe somebody who lied to you?” Brown asked the jury. “He lied about something significant. Look at the medical records thoroughly. My client’s fate depends on it.”

In addition, he said, the lead detective on the case did not interview several people who were at the scene during the shooting. Instead, made up a story of what happened. Brown described the detective as “star-struck,” saying that he didn’t want to investigate further.

The defense attorney also noted that the video surveillance footage of his client showed the defendant walking, not running, from the scene.

Brown said that White walked away from the scene in a manner unlike someone with a gun stashed in their waistband. The defense attorney explained how a gun in a person’s waistband would affect their walk, placing a small green journal through his own waistband to demonstrate to the jury.

The prosecutor later countered that White was wearing leggings under a pair of shorts, which could have better secured a gun.

Brown implored the jury to find his client not guilty as the state was unable to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jury deliberations began Wednesday afternoon.