August Trial for Shooting Involving Girlfriend And Family

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A 36-year-old Baltimore man is expected to be tried this August for an assault and shooting involving his girlfriend and her family in December 2024.

During Baltimore City Circuit Court’s reception proceedings on May 28, the prosecutor offered Jermaine Lawson a plea of 25 years, suspending all but 15 years, for first-degree assault, a concurrent five years without parole for firearm use in a felony or violent crime and a consecutive 10 years suspended and five years of supervised probation for second-degree assault.

Lawson would also be required to register as a gun offender.

Tony Garcia, Lawson’s defense attorney, rejected the offer on his client’s behalf. Judge Melissa M. Phinn and counsel agreed to begin his four-day trial on Aug. 1 before Judge Levi S. Zaslow.

During their investigation, Baltimore Police reported the victim, 25, was in a relationship with the defendant when the shooting occurred on Dec. 21, 2024. She told police she had a fight with Lawson about his alleged infidelity earlier in the day, according to court documents.

Later in the day, she told police, Lawson returned home and was confronted by the victim’s stepfather and other family members. As the argument between the two men turned physical, court documents state, Lawson allegedly fired a gun in the air and then pointed it at the victim’s mother. The victim grabbed the gun to stop the defendant when he pulled the trigger a second time.

No one was shot during the incident; however, the victim had “a major laceration” to her right index finger. Police said in charging documents that her injury was likely caused by the gun’s slide.