Defendant Shot Victim at ‘Point-Blank for No Reason’ Outside Freddie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Prosecutor Argues

By Andrew Michaels - January 11, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

When 49-year-old Damian Palmer saw a man standing near his car outside Freddie’s Sports Bar and Grill last March, his response was nothing short of senseless and reckless, a Baltimore City prosecutor said at the start of the defendant’s trial on Jan. 11.

On March 25, 2023, the victim and his wife were walking along the 7200 block of Harford Road and waiting for cars to pass before crossing the street. The prosecutor explained during her opening statement that the victim was standing next to the front driver’s side of a nearby car when he was confronted by Palmer, who then “shot him point-blank for no reason.”

Moments before the shooting, a woman driving the car in question dropped Palmer off at the bar. Palmer returned to find the victim standing near her car window, took out his gun and opened fire, the prosecutor told jurors.

According to charging documents, the victim told Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers that Palmer said something along the lines of, “What are you doing near my car?” just before he shot the victim in his right hand, stomach and knee.

In response to the prosecution, defense attorney James Sweeting III argued Palmer’s case was about suspect identification.

“This is a whodunit case from beginning to end,” Sweeting said. “…Just because some things look like they do doesn’t meant they are.”

Sweeting encouraged jurors to question people’s perceptions and focus on the prosecution’s evidence, specifically, the lack thereof. Although the prosecution is expected to show video evidence of the incident, defense counsel said no evidence of DNA, fingerprints or facial recognition will be presented.

“[This case] is not about whether something bad happened on Harford Road,” he said. “It’s about who’s responsible.”

Testimony began mid-morning Thursday before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard and is expected to continue on Jan. 12.

The defendant is currently charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, having a gun within 100 yards of a public place, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle and firing a gun in Baltimore City.