Broening Highway Shooting Defendant Found Guilty of Murder

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A Baltimore man accused of first-degree murder in connection to a shooting on the 1400 block of Broening Highway has been found guilty before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner.

Ronald Haskins, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

Haskins allegedly shot and killed 38-year old Richard Pearson on the 1400 block of Broening Highway after a dispute.

The turning point of the trial came when the testimony of the lead detective on the case revealed that Haskins had alluded to committing the shooting in two seperate phone calls to his incarcerated sister. In the phone calls, Haskins described the events leading up to the incident and how he was now being paid to stay in the house and could not talk to anyone.

Haskins described how a man he had never seen before walked up and tried to slap his gun out of his hand. It was at this point that Haskins allegedly shot the victim. Haskins said Pearson got what he deserved for being out there. The defendant was audibly frustrated over his situation and how he felt trapped in the house.

Although Haskins was unwilling to answer many of the lead detective’s questions, as seen in the video footage of his interview, there was evidence placing him at the crime.

The detective confirmed that the defendant was wearing some articles of the clothing seen on the suspect in the footage when he was taken to the police station for questioning.

During his closing argument, the defendant’s defense attorney, Josh Insley, argued that the defendant’s aunt and cousin could have set him up to frame him for the murder because both testified against him.

He also said there was another suspect in the case. There is some doubt that it is Haskins who committed the murder, he said.

Furthermore, Insley said there was no evidence that the murder was premeditated and that there was no solid argument to be made to convict Haskins of first-degree murder.

However, the prosecutor said the opposite during his closing argument. He said there was numerous evidence to convict Haskins, including the jail calls to his sister as well as multiple witnesses identifying Haskins as wearing a green coat, the same coat the man who shot the victim was wearing.

After being found guilty on all counts. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 14, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.