Defendant Hints At Role in Broening Highway Shooting During Jail Call to Incarcerated Sister

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Intriguing details in the ongoing trial of homicide defendant Ronald Haskins came to light on April 6 due to two recorded jail calls made to his sister in the following days after the incident.

Haskins, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on the 1400 block of Broening Highway.

Three different members of the BPD were called as witnesses during the proceeding. The first two talked about evidence recovered from the crime scene and from the house, including cartridge casings, shoes, clothes, and jewelry.

The third member of the BPD, the main detective on the case, detailed arriving at the crime scene and interviewing witnesses in the area.

The detective said he was able to obtain security camera footage that showed the defendant in the area around the time of the shooting wearing the same clothes that were recovered as evidence.

An interview with the defendant, which showed the defendant largely being uncooperative, was also played for the jury.

In addition, two jail calls with the defendant’s incarcerated sister were also played, revealing details about the incident. In one of the phone calls Haskins alluded to allegedly killing the victim, 38-year-old Richard Pearson. Haskins also detailed how he could not go outside after the incident and was being paid money to stay in the house. His sister told him not to be reckless as the calls were being recorded.

The final witness of the day was the medical examiner who examined Pearson’s body. The medical examiner stated that the cause of death was multiple shots to the torso.

At the end of the hearing, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner stated that the trial would resume on April 7.