Attempted Murder Trial in Hustler Club Shooting Underway

By Andrew Michaels - February 13, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

In the attempted murder trial of Jamar Beckford, jurors will watch video footage of his fight with the victim. But according to defense attorney Hunter Pruette, what the jury won’t see is who had the gun when it went off and struck the victim in the shoulder.

The shooting occurred inside Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club on 400 block of E. Baltimore Street on Feb. 27, 2022.

During opening statements on Feb. 10, Pruette said there was good quality and bad quality video footage, which does show someone in a white shirt pushing up against another person. Although jurors will see the tussle between the two individuals, he continued, they won’t be able to tell who had the gun.

Pruette also explained that while the prosecution claims there was a DNA match for his client on the weapon, there was actually a mixture of DNA from three different people, making it questionable.

Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecutor said the victim, who frequented the strip club, was walking to the second floor when he was approached by Beckford. The victim did not know the defendant, she said, and a gun went off during their altercation on the stairs.

Evidence against Beckford included video footage showing him walking up the street as well as his DNA that was found on the gun, which was left at the scene.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana Middleton presided over the trial as testimony began on Friday.