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By
Andrew Michaels
- December 19, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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A 48-year-old man accused of shooting a shotgun at two sisters over an alleged insult was convicted of the non-fatal shooting on Dec. 12 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yvette M. Bryant.
Nadeem Tajdin was found guilty of two counts of first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and illegal possession of a firearm in addition to single counts of reckless endangerment, firing a gun in Baltimore City and illegal possession of ammunition. His charge of having an unregistered rifle/shotgun was dismissed, while two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment received no verdict.
Prior to counsels’ closing arguments on Dec. 11, Tajdin took the stand in Judge Bryant’s courtroom, where he testified that the two victims, ages 16 and 19, were accompanied by two men when they came inside the corner store on the 3700 block of Edmondson Avenue on March 6, 2023. The defendant explained that he knew the two men sold marijuana in the area. As the store neared closing, Tajdin and his son asked the customers to complete their purchases, which led the younger sister to call the defendant’s son a “dummy.”
Tajdin testified that he and the younger sister proceeded to curse at one another, saying that they threatened murder and robbery. Beginning to fear for his and his son’s safety, Tajdin said he pointed the shotgun at the plexiglass, but “accidentally discharged” the firearm.
Both Tajdin and his defense attorney, Rodney Gray, frequently referred to the weapon as a BB gun at trial, while evidence indicated the weapon was a 14-inch barrel shotgun containing shotgun shells filled with birdshot, the prosecution said.
The prosecutor repeatedly argued that the two women “posed no threat” to Tajdin’s son nor his property. Tajdin’s decision to dispose of the firearm in a nearby lot that night should also be seen as an admission of guilt, she added.
Following the jury’s verdict, Tajdin’s sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 8, 2025.