Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.
By
Sage Cho
- February 21, 2025
Attempted Murder
|
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Attempted murder defendant Marcel Johnson rejected a plea offer of an aggregate 15 years, suspending all but eight, the first five without parole, along with mandatory gun offender registry before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Feb. 21.
Johnson, 22, is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and related firearm charges in connection to the Oct. 4, 2024 shooting of an unnamed victim following an altercation near the 1700 block of Presstman Street.
According to charging documents, officers responded to ShotSpotter alerts of five gunshot rounds at the scene of the incident. While approaching the 1200 block of N. Calhoun Street, they allegedly saw Johnson fleeing the scene southbound on a BMX bicycle. Johnson ignored police orders to stop and pedaled faster to evade them, but was eventually apprehended near the 400 block of N. Calhoun Street.
Police say, a pat down produced a silver cellphone and a black Ruger P95DC handgun with the serial number #31392699 loaded with one round in the chamber and three live rounds in a black satchel Johnson was wearing.
After officers read Johnson his rights, he tried to justify opening fire.
“N****s just attacked me like I never seen that, so I defended myself,” he said. “Simple at that – defense.”
Police questioned the driver of a Navy route Maryland Transit bus who testified that she witnessed two Black males dressed in all black, one of whom pushed Johnson off the BMX bicycle while attempting to mount it himself. In response, Johnson stood up, produced the handgun, and allegedly began shooting at the unknown victim before fleeing on his bicycle.
During canvassing, a witness testified to hearing two or three gunshots before another round pierced the window and closet door of his second-floor apartment bedroom, where he was at the time.
The BMX bicycle, Ruger handgun, and silver cellphone were processed for examination.
Johnson, who is represented by defense attorney Brandon Thornton, will return to court April 18 for a two-day jury trial before Judge Yvette M. Bryant.