Counsel Argues Over Who Shot First in 2022 Madison Park Shootout

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A 45-year-old Baltimore man was acquitted of attempted murder but found guilty of firing a gun in a shootout with another man last year in West Baltimore’s Madison Park.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Erik Atas presided over the nine-day bench trial of Wardell Richardson, which concluded on June 9. Judge Atas acquitted Richardson of his second-degree attempted murder charge, while finding him guilty of first-degree assault, having a handgun on his person, firearm use in a felony violent crime, discharging firearms and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4.

“The issue at play here is essentially who shot first,” the prosecutor told Judge Atas during her closing argument.

The shooting stemmed from an argument between the victim and Richardson, who was in a relationship with the mother of the victim’s children. Defense attorney Robert Cohen, alongside Janet Andersen, informed the judge that the victim was jealous and angry about paying child support and had showed up three times unannounced to see his children.

At the time of the incident, the prosecutor explained, the defendant pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the victim near the 300 block of Bloom Street and 2000 block of Eutaw Place. The victim fired back and shot Richardson in the leg.

“‘I thought he was trying to kill me, so I was trying to kill him,’” the prosecutor said, quoting the victim’s testimony.

Richardson was not cooperative with the Baltimore Police Department’s investigation but did tell officers that this was a drive-by shooting.

These were reversed roles, according to Cohen, who argued that the defendant was approaching the intersection when the victim took out a gun and fired between two and four shots at Richardson—the third or fourth shot striking the defendant’s leg. Richardson fired a total of four shots, while the victim fired nine shots.

“[The victim’s] story was one that was clearly rehearsed,” Cohen said. “[He] had 28 days to practice his lies. … When you tell lies, it can be difficult to remember the truth.”

The defense attorney quoted the victim’s testimony as saying, “I remember what I need to remember.”