Trial began May 15 in the case of Norman Ransom, 44, after Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles H. Dorsey denied a defense request for postponement.
Brown was initially charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and multiple gun offenses for allegedly firing a weapon at a group of women outside his house on Oct. 26, 2025. Although the prosecution dropped his attempted murder charge, Ransom still faces other felony and gun charges.
During the day, Ransom’s case moved from courtroom to courtroom as the defendant, who had initially opted for a jury trial, ultimately decided to proceed with a bench trial. Proceedings began with a probable cause hearing where the court heard from an officer who responded to a ShotSpotter notification on the 2600 block of Garrett Avenue, where several women flagged him down and said they’d subjected to gunfire. Footage from his body-worn camera showed the women identifying Ransom as the alleged shooter.
Ransom reportedly fled the scene, and officers pursued him through a nearby alley before he was apprehended.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Jerry Prince questioned apparent inconsistencies in the officer’s statements, arguing that no officer had witnessed Ransom holding or discarding a gun.
Additional body-worn camera footage was presented that revealed the women who had initially identified Ransom ultimately retracted their statements. The officer acknowledged this discrepancy, claiming the women became less cooperative and declined to provide identification upon further questioning.
Prince also noted that police did not find a weapon on Ransom following the pursuit, and argued that the officers relied on unreliable information to justify their arrest.
The state’s attorney countered by asserting that the officers had ample probable cause based on the witness identifications, the ShotSpotter alert and footage from a helicopter that allegedly showed Ransom fleeing through the alley before arriving at the garage.
Prince, however, maintained that Ransom fled the area after a gunshot erupted inside of his home, where he had been burgled and received threatening anonymous calls. Ransom never possessed or fired a weapon, Prince insisted.
This trial is expected to continue May 18 with further witness testimony.
