Defense Questions Police Investigation in Opening Statements

By Alyssia Davis [former] - July 1, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Counsel began their initial arguments with opening statements June 30 for the trial of a 27-year-old Baltimore man charged with the murder.  

Gilbert Della is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of use of a firearm during a violent crime and carrying a loaded handgun in connection to allegedly shooting 28-year-old Ikeem Issac on Jan. 1, 2019, on the 4900 block of Frederick Avenue.  

During opening statements, the prosecutor revealed that throughout the trial, jurors will see videos, pictures, cartridge casings, DNA evidence, and a cellphone. The jurors will see the victim approach a parked car with three men around it, where he proceeds to shake one of the men’s hands then another man shoots the victim. 

One of the three men proceeds to shoot the victim and pistol whips him, the prosecutor says. He mentioned how the incident was not provoked, the three men purposely shot and killed the victim. 

At the time of the incident, the victim’s girlfriend was with him, she will testify that the defendant, Della, was one of the people who shot Issac. The victim’s girlfriend will also testify that the defendant fired some of the shots that killed Issac. 

The prosecutor also mentioned he will prove that a phone was present at the crime scene with the defendant’s DNA on it, placing him at the scene when the victim was murdered. 

The prosecutor’s case might sound/look solid but it’s not, said defense counsel Megan Lewis.

Police had tunnel vision in this case, they did not look anywhere else except at the defendant, she continued. They would have seen more evidence had they looked, there were two other suspects in the case. Two other possible suspects’ DNA was found in the area of the incident, but the police did not investigate it. 

There were three suspects, and two shooters, said Lewis. 

There was no connection between the defendant, the car, weapon, or clothing. The defendant was an easy target, Lewis said. He was arrested a month later, half a block away from the incident. 

Initially, the victim’s girlfriend told the police that she did not see what happened because it happened too fast, Lewis said.

The police’s work was inadequate and incomplete because they did not do any investigating. By the end of the case, you will have doubts and I ask you find the defendant not guilty, she said.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul Alpert is presiding over the trial.

Della’s trial is scheduled to continue on July 1.