Brooklyn Neighborhood Shooter Shot Victim Over Money, Prosecutor Says

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Defense counsel in the case of attempted homicide defendant Michael Simms alleged that the victim’s “vague identification” of his client was not enough to warrant a guilty conviction as the jury trial began on June 12 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill.

During opening statements on Monday, defense attorney Donald Wright informed jurors that Simms’ case should end rather quickly given the little evidence implicating the 19-year-old defendant, who is charged with first and second-degree attempted murder, armed robbery, robbery, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and firearm use in a felony violent crime for an incident on April 23, 2022, on the 4100 block of 6th Street.

“Instead of [Baltimore Police Department officers] admitting to their mistake, they double down” on Simms, Wright said, noting that the 27-year-old victim claimed Simms “appeared to be the person who shot him.”

This was further emphasized by the fact that the victim wasn’t interviewed by police until two months after the incident, Wright continued, and without being presented a photo array.

Earlier in the proceedings, the assistant state’s attorney trying the case explained that the victim drove to the Brooklyn neighborhood around 3 a.m. to purchase marijuana from the defendant. When the two men met, Simms pulled a gun on the victim, a struggle over the weapon ensued, and the victim was shot in his right arm.

“It’s a case where someone almost died,” the prosecutor said. “…This did not need to happen. It was completely unnecessary. This man shot the victim for money.”

The trial moved forward with testimony on Monday and is expected to continue on June 13.

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