Defense Attorney Questions Whether Victim Shot Himself

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David Boyd, 43, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams on March 20 for opening statements in an attempted murder trial with the defense challenging the victim’s account.

The 43-year-old defendant is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use during a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person and discharging firearms.

The prosecutor declined to make an open statement.

As defense attorney Janet Andersen attempted to recap evidence about the suspect and the victim’s living together and how their accounts of why they decided to split up differed, the judge cut her off for recounting information already entered.

The defense went on to say there was no record from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) of the 29-year-old victim initially claiming he was shot. The victim didn’t tell police someone else shot him on first contact and only came up with Boyd’s name later in the investigation. Andersen suggested he may have shot himself accidentally.

According to BPD documents, Boyd is charged in connection to an incident on Oct. 25, 2022. Officers were called to the 100 block of Ann Street for reports of a shooting. On arrival, officers found a male victim with a gunshot to his left leg. Follow-up interviews with the victim revealed Boyd allegedly shot the victim after an argument.

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