Defendant Planned to Rob Drug Dealer on Flowerton Road, Prosecutor Says at Start of 2021 Murder Trial

By Andrew Michaels , Alyssia Davis [former] - March 8, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

It was a set-up disguised as a drug deal.

A Baltimore City prosecutor cracked open the case of 22-year-old Raekwon Griffin before a 12-person jury on March 8, preparing jurors for testimony and evidence that she said would paint the picture of “a robbery gone wrong.”

The defendant planned to buy marijuana from 26-year-old Brian Palmer, who was accompanied by his cousin, 33-year-old Darrin Stewart. On Aug. 5, 2021, Griffin allegedly told Palmer to meet him on the 4300 block of Flowerton Road.

The prosecutor said in her opening statement that an analysis of the defendant’s cell phone placed him at this location. Further investigation into Griffin and Palmer’s cell phones showed that the Baltimore Police Department suspected the former as the gunman based on his texts with the victim prior to the shooting.

The prosecutor said that Griffin reportedly changed his cell phone number after the shooting and had Palmer’s stolen weed in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Defense attorney Kenneth Man questioned the very evidence the prosecution relied on, saying that there was no evidence indicating that any type of robbery was planned. His client was scared of the situation, he added, which is why he changed his cell phone number.

The trial proceeded with testimony before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Myshala Middleton. 

In addition to three counts of first-degree murder, Griffin is also charged with two counts of firearm use in a crime of violence and single counts of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, being a minor in possession of a firearm and drug possession with the intent to distribute.