Defense Counsel’s Illness Postpones Trial for Man Accused of Shooting at Neighbor Over Parking Cone

By Andrew Michaels - April 21, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

An attempted homicide defendant accused of shooting at his neighbor over a parking cone had his jury trial postponed approximately four months after his defense counsel was reported ill on April 20.

A Baltimore City prosecutor and defense attorney Larry Rogers, both standing in for assigned counsel, informed Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays that Christopher Williams’ attorney, Angela Shelton, was out sick due to an ear infection, following pre-trial motions on April 14. Williams’ trial was scheduled to begin jury selection on Thursday morning.

Judge Mays sent the case to Judge Melissa Phinn, who agreed to reschedule the three-day trial for Aug. 15 before Judge Christopher Panos.

The 56-year-old defendant is facing multiple counts of attempted first and second-degree murder and first and second-degree assault as well as five weapons charges for allegedly shooting at his neighbor on March 27, 2022.

During a bail hearing last May, the prosecution said the defendant and the victim were arguing over a parking cone that was put in a parking spot near the former’s residence. Williams reportedly went inside his home to get a gun, came back outside, and fired three shots.

Defense counsel previously argued that the altercation became physical, injuring Williams, who actually fired the gun in the air, not at the victim.