Back-to-Back Jury Trials Set For Homicide, Attempted Murder Defendant

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A Baltimore man charged in two separate shootings, including the murder of 59-year-old Reginald Harrod, is expected to have back-to-back jury trials later this year.

Reginald Raysor, 33, will head to trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court beginning Sept. 9 to face accusations that he assaulted and attempted to kill a woman on the 2400 block of Guilford Avenue on Aug. 28, 2024. During reception court on May 30, counsel and defense attorney Jerry Rodriguez, who will represent Raysor in both cases, agreed to schedule the three-day trial before Judge Troy K. Hill.

The prosecutor initially offered Raysor a plea of life, suspending all but 30 years, and five years of supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent five years without parole for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. However, Rodriguez and Raysor rejected the offer.

Court documents state the defendant paid the victim $60 to perform sex acts on him during a “date.” Afterward, Raysor allegedly robbed the victim as she was getting something out of her vehicle.

As they fought, the vehicle’s alarm went off and Raysor ran away, firing four gunshots. He fired two more shots when the victim got back to her car, charging documents state.

The victim told police she followed Raysor in her vehicle as he drove away but lost track of him.

On Oct. 1, Raysor will then return to the Circuit Court for Harrod’s murder that occurred less than a month after September’s attempted murder. Judge Althea M. Handy will preside.

The defendant was presented an offer of life, suspending all but 60 years, with five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder, a concurrent 20 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime as well as a concurrent 15 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

This offer was also rejected.

“Judge [Melissa K.] Copeland will not postpone this case in October, so everybody needs to be ready,” reception court Judge Melissa M. Phinn told counsel on Friday.

According to the police report, Harrod drove and parked his car, listening to music, on the 1100 Springfield Avenue around 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2024. Two men approached the victim when he got out of his vehicle.

One of the suspects told Harrod to “give me your shi*t,” followed by a struggle and Harrod was shot. Court documents state surveillance footage showed a silver SUV driving away from the crime scene shortly after the shooting.

Neighbors reported the gunshot to Baltimore Police. Harrod was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but died from his injuries shortly before midnight.