Convicted Murderer Testifies He Shot Victim in Self-Defense

By Andrew Michaels - November 1, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The defendant in a decade-old homicide case testified on Nov. 1 that he shot the victim in self-defense after the victim allegedly attempted to kill him weeks prior.

Damien Davon Davis, 30, was convicted of first-degree murder and handgun use in committing a crime and was sentenced to life, suspending all but 35 years, and five years probation, and a concurrent 20 years for handgun use in committing a crime, respectively, in November 2010.

The prosecutor said on Monday that the defendant, who was 16 at the time, and Darius Duppins, who was 17, went into a restaurant on the 2500 block of Hoffman Street on May 5, 2008, and pointed their handguns at 21-year-old Paris Richardson.

Davis tried to fire his gun, but it was jammed. Duppins was able to fire his gun, shooting Richardson eight times in his head, neck, and torso.

Duppins was convicted of conspiracy to first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in July 2012.

During Monday’s proceedings, defense attorney Melissa McDonnell called Davis to testify before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John S. Nugent. 

Davis, who was previously represented by defense attorney Sharon Dubey, said the two had discussed possible defense strategies prior to his trial, including self-defense. However, Dubey advised Davis not to testify.

According to Davis’ testimony on Monday, the chain of events that led to Richardson’s death began weeks before when the victim’s girlfriend told him that Davis slapped her. Davis and Richardson were acquaintances.

Days later, Davis said, Richardson approached him from about four feet away in a grey Crown Victoria and pointed a black handgun at the defendant. Richardson did not fire the gun, and Davis ran away.

Davis saw Richardson once again about a week before the latter’s death. The defendant said he heard the victim arguing with a woman about finding Davis. The defendant testified that Richardson shot his brother soon after.

On May 5, 2008, Davis said, he went to Jimmy’s Carryout after learning that Richardson was there and shot him because he was scared the victim was going to shoot him. Unlike Davis’ testimony prior to his trial, the defendant said on Monday that he went to the restaurant alone and that Duppins wasn’t present.

Davis initially revealed this information at Duppins’ trial, the prosecutor noted, having given a false statement to police officers following Davis’ own arrest.

Following Davis’ testimony, McDonnell said Dubey failed to present the argument of self-defense and that the jury never heard that Richardson had shot Davis’ brother.

“Self-defense would allow that to come in,” McDonnell said. “[Davis] had this fear that this person was coming for him.”

“‘I’m going to kill you before you kill me,’ is not self-defense,” the prosecutor argued.

The prosecution added that Davis didn’t file a motion to modify his sentence with Dubey but did it himself; therefore, Dubey would have been unaware of how Davis wanted to proceed with his case.

Judge Nugent informed Davis and counsel that the court would take their arguments under advisement and make a decision at a later date.