Acquitted: Man Accused of Shooting at Family of Four Found Not Guilty of Attempted Murder

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A Baltimore City jury acquitted 33-year-old Devontay Reed of attempted murder, assault and weapons charges on Dec. 4 in connection to the shooting of a family of four.

Reed was initially charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, four counts of first and second-degree assault, three counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of firearm use in a felony or violent crime and single counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a loaded handgun on his person, carrying a handgun, having a gun within 100 yards of the public, firing a gun in Baltimore City and the illegal possession of ammunition in relation to an incident on the 1400 block of East North Avenue on Jan. 25.

The jury reached its verdict less than three hours after their deliberations.

On Dec. 1, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner oversaw closing arguments.

The prosecutor said that Reed’s intention was always to target the victim and that this crime was no accident. Moreover, he stated the evidence clearly pointed to Reed as the perpetrator.

“We’re here because this man, Devontay Reed, tried to shoot and take the life of [the victim],” said the prosecution.

Reed’s defense attorney, Martin Cohen, echoed what the victim had said on the day of the crime: “I know who shot me.” Cohen blamed another man for the shooting, stating that Reed was only implicated by the Baltimore Police Department’s inability to fully investigate the case.

Specifically, Cohen continued, the connection the prosecution was making to Reed as the suspect was a result of mass-produced clothing.

“So the pants are guilty, then? My client is not. My client is not the shooter,” Cohen said.

The prosecution responded that “the defense did a good job. They gave you a lot of different questions you weren’t even thinking of. But the why doesn’t matter; the who does.”

According to court documents, BPD officers were approached by a couple and their two children, who claimed they had been shot multiple times in their vehicle.

Reed was identified as a suspect as he was found traveling in the area of 1600 block of E. Oliver Street around the time of the shooting. Officers then arrested him and charged him with attempted murder.