Closing Statements Given in Bel Air Road Attempted Murder Trial

By Jordan Fortuna [former] - October 31, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

On Oct. 31, the assistant state’s attorney and defense attorney Stephen Tully gave closing statements in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer in the attempted murder trial of Ira Linton.

Linton, 45, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City In connection to a Jan. 2 incident.

During the incident, the victim was struck in the head by a bullet, and was shot three times overall. The prosecution stated that the victim lost “voluminous amounts of blood.” They also commented on the blood on the hands of bystanders who tried to render aid. As evidence of Linton’s intention to kill, they offered that the “only purpose of a gunshot to the head is to kill someone.”

Tully said that Linton “would need a helicopter” to arrive where the shooting took place to line up with the prosecution’s timeline. The prosecution said that Linton was already inside the location where the shooting took place, but according to the defense that was not possible.

Tully also suggested that the victim was making up a story to cover himself from being charged with illegal weapon possession and discharging a firearm in Baltimore City after accidentally shooting himself.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) investigators identified Linton with a photo array and testimony from the victim. The victim knew Linton. They had been out at a bar watching the Ravens game on the 6500 block of Bel Air Road when Linton allegedly shot at the victim outside of a bar.