Attempted Murder Suspect Claims He Shot Back to Save His Wife

By Kyle Pellegrino - February 29, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Feb. 28, the jury heard closing arguments from the defense and prosecution for Jamal Piles’ attempted murder case in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr.

Piles, 34, faces 11 charges, including attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, two counts of reckless endangerment, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle and discharging a firearm in connection to a June 6, 2023, incident.

The assistant state’s attorney said Piles made a series of choices to put his wife in danger that resulted in her death. The prosecutor went on to say that Piles made a choice to cleanup the scene, as well as his clothes and throw away the firearm used in the crime.

Piles claimed self-defense, but the prosecution said, “Piles took no defensive position” and “was not in fear of his life,” as the aggressor in an altercation.

Amanda Savage, defense attorney representing Piles, said Piles was “set up.”

Savage said Piles, a rapper and record label owner, arrived at the scene on the 1300 block of Booth Street to negotiate being featured in a song, but after a shooter fired, he took a defensive position to save himself and his wife. 

Savage said the police investigation was done poorly and that this case was not a “priority” by Baltimore Police Department (BPD) investigators.

Savage also stated that the police were “making assumptions” and closed the case to move on to a bigger one. Savage concluded , “Jamal was just trying to protect his wife.”

In a rebuttal, the prosecution asked the jury, “Why did Piles put his wife in harm’s way if he loves her?” The prosecutor told the jury that Piles’ concern wasn’t protecting his wife, rather it was to cover his tracks. “He went ten blocks, tossed the gun in a storm drain and then called for help.” 

She said that the other shooter had his head down and Piles shot first, responding tofthe self-defense claim. The prosecutor went on to say that when police arrived, “Piles went into a store to wash his hands and grab a bottle of water, rather than being with his wife.”

She finished her rebuttal by asking the jury to find Jamal Piles guilty on all counts.