Defendant Fired at Victim 15 Times in ‘Act of Extreme Violence,’ Prosecutor Argues

Baltimore Courthouse

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Two days after the anniversary of the shooting, attempted homicide defendant Lance Hickman began his jury trial on May 10 when a Baltimore City prosecutor said the defendant opened fire on the victim more than a dozen times in the Howard Park neighborhood.

The 30-year-old defendant’s case was first scheduled before Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton on May 7, but was hit with several delays due to the lack of available jurors and scheduling issues. Hickman’s trial was later moved before Judge Troy K. Hill, who presided over opening statements Friday morning.

Hickman is currently facing multiple attempted murder, assault, weapons and conspiracy charges in connection to the shooting on May 8, 2023.

According to the prosecution, Hickman—also know as “Peewee”—and his cousin pulled up in a silver sedan alongside the victim who was walking to his grandmother’s house in the area of Gwynn Oak and Ferndale avenues. The defendant then fired at the victim 15 times before the two men drove away in what the prosecutor described as “an act of extreme violence.”

“There’s nothing else you could intend by shooting at someone that many times,” the prosecutor said.

Once the victim was able to speak more than a week later, she continued, he identified the defendant as the shooter during a photo array with detectives from the Baltimore Police Department.

“[The victim] knew exactly who did this and he will come in and tell you who did this,” the prosecutor said.

In addition to the victim’s testimony, evidence will also include recovered shell casings and the victim’s bullet-ridden clothing.

During his opening statement, defense attorney Roland Brown told jurors that what the prosecutor said was “just a story,” with no facts or evidence to back up the prosecution’s claims. No gun, DNA or cell phone evidence was recovered during the police investigation, he said, nor was there a witness who identified his client as the shooter.

“There’s nothing associating him with the crime scene at all,” Brown argued.

Testimony began early Friday morning and is expected to continue on May 13.