Baltimore Witness

Judge Schedules Trial for Defendant Accused in 2022 Shooting of 19-Year-Old

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn scheduled a three-day trial for an attempted murder defendant in reception court on Jan. 27. Defendant Victor Shuron II rejected a plea offered... Read More

Convicted Homicide Defendant’s Probation Violation Hearing Postponed

Details A 32-year-old homicide defendant’s probation violation hearing was postponed to next month after retaining new defense counsel earlier this week. Pierre Harris appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey on... Read More

Attorneys Return to Reception Court to Request Judge in Attempted Murder Case

Details A woman accused of attempted murder received a different trial date and judge during reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Jan. 27. Counsels involved in... Read More

Police Seeking Identities of Suspects Accused of Shooting Edmondson High School Students, one Fatally

Details The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) are seeking help identifying two shooting suspects from Jan. 5 On the day of the incident, Deanta Dorsey and four other Edmondson High School students... Read More

Attempted Murder Defendant Awaiting Competency Evaluation Mistakenly Appears on Reception Court Docket

Details An attempted murder defendant failed to appear for his reception court hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Jan. 26 due to a pending mental health evaluation.... Read More

Northeast District Makes Arrest after Death of 75-Year-Old in Care Center Ruled a Homicide

By Baltimore Witness staff - January 27, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Details The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) has made an arrest in reference to the homicide of 75-year-old Ellsworth Johnson-Bey that occurred in the Northeast District in 2022. Investigators have arrested 35-year-old... Read More

42-Year-Old Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Back-to-Back Murders

Details Two days after pleading guilty, 42-year-old Gerald Smith received two concurrent life sentences on Jan. 25 for the murder of Marvis Pollock and Brittaney Hayes-Smith in 2021. The first killing occurred on... Read More

Attempted Murder Defendant Receives Trial Date for 2022 Chapel Street Homicide

Details A Baltimore woman charged with attempted murder received a trial date during her reception court hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Jan. 26. The prosecutor notified the court... Read More

Woman Accused of Fatally Stabbing Roommate Opts For Plea in the Middle of Bench Trial

Details A Baltimore woman from the Easterwood neighborhood opted to plead guilty to fatally stabbing 47-year-old Veronica Freeman in 2020 rather than proceed with a bench trial on Jan. 25. Leah... Read More

Mother Takes Plea for Vehicular Manslaughter in Death of 7-Month-Old

Details A 30-year-old mother from Brooklyn Park accepted a plea offer on Jan. 24 for vehicular manslaughter, resulting in the death of her 7-month-old son in 2022. Samanda Bradds, also known... Read More

Story of Self-Defense ‘Made Up,’ Prosecutor Argues in Fells Point Shooting Trial

Details The first of four co-defendants received a guilty verdict on Jan. 17 in connection to a shooting in Fells Point in January 2022. Joel Duncan, 26, was found guilty of... Read More

Defendant Accused of Shooting Man in the Neck Given Trial Date

Details On Jan. 25, an attempted murder defendant received a trial date during his reception court hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn. Defendant Dionte Johnson rejected a plea... Read More

Defendant ‘Executed’ Victim in W. Saratoga Street Shooting, Prosecutor Says

Details “He’s a man, not an executioner.” During opening statements on Jan. 25, defense counsel in the jury trial of Donte Brown adamantly denied the defendant’s alleged involvement in the murder of 22-year-old... Read More

Western District Officers Seeking Wanted Vehicle

By Baltimore Witness staff - January 25, 2023
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Details On Jan. 24, 2023, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Baltimore City Helicopter Unit (Foxtrot) spotted a vehicle that was wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred on Jan. 16, in... Read More

Northeast District Officers Make Arrest in Non-Fatal Shooting of Female on Saint Clair Crossing

Details On Jan. 20, Warrant Apprehension Task Force detectives with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) arrested 49-year-old Freddie Fordham and transferred him to Central Booking Intake Facility and charged with attempted... Read More

Prosecutor Describes Homicide Victim Begging for His Life Before Shooting in Summer 2021

Details Homicide victim Anthony Cain Jr. was shown no mercy as he begged for his life on July 8, 2021. An assistant state’s attorney with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office... Read More

Judge Refuses Counsel’s Proposed Trial Dates Citing Defendant’s Speedy Trial Rights

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn continued a scheduled hearing for a man charged with attempted murder on Jan. 24, hoping that counsels can agree on an earlier trial date. The... Read More

Prosecutor Nolle Pros Weapons Case Against One of Three Defendants

Details During reception court on Jan. 23, prosecutors elected to nolle pros a case against a Baltimore man facing multiple weapons charges. Defendant Bryce Gray was scheduled for trial in February... Read More

Attempted Murder Defendant Misses Scheduling Hearing Due to Hospitalization

Details An attempted murder defendant did not appear for his trial scheduling hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Jan. 24 due to his health. Defendant Victor Shuron II did... Read More

Trial Date Set for 16-Year-Old Defendant Charged with Murder

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn continued a reception court hearing for a juvenile defendant because his attorney could no longer represent him. Judge Phinn was unable to set a trial date... Read More

Defendant Found Guilty in N. Pulaski St. Shooting

Details When defendant Anton Harris made eye contact with an MTA officer on May 4, 2022, “he knew he had been made,” a prosecutor told the jury on the final day of his... Read More

Judge Grants Postponement for Man Accused of Fatal Stabbing, Later Strangling Cellmate

Details A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge granted defense counsel’s postponement request for the trial of a Cumberland man accused of two murders, one of which he allegedly committed in jail... Read More

Circuit Court Judge Sentences Convicted Attempted Murder Defendant

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Anthony Vittoria sentenced a convicted attempted murder defendant on Jan. 23 to a total of 46 years in prison, in addition, required him to pay a $1,000... Read More

Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty in Two Separate 2021 Murders

Details A Baltimore man charged with two murders pleaded guilty in both cases before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays on Jan. 23. In both cases, Gerald Smith and his defense counsel Karyn... Read More