Co-defendants Gregory Granger Jr., 42, and Ritchie Hicks, 32, stood before Judge Jeffrey M. Geller on April 6 as the state requested a postponement in their joint trial.
Granger and Hicks each face two charges each of first-degree murder, attempted murder and assault, as well as multiple counts of conspiracy and firearm use for their alleged involvement in a Dec. 16, 2024 shooting that occurred on the block 1200 W. Baltimore Street. The incident left Ricky Forehand, 44, dead and one injured.
The two were connected to the crime after police obtained various surveillance videos that showed the pair allegedlycarrying out the shooting. Multiple witness interviews positively identified Hicks and Granger as the shooters, according to charging documents, and various pieces of clothing were recovered from the scene.
On Monday, a stand-in prosecuting attorney informed Judge Geller that the state was seeking a postponement as the regular prosecuting attorney was out on medical leave for the month.
The case was later sent to Judge Melissa K. Copeland in reception court, where the prosecution offered both defendants a plea deal of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of supervised probation. Hicks’ attorney, Natalie Finegar, and Granger’s attorney, Staci Pipkin, both rejected the offers.
Both Finegar and Pipkin stated that they were aware of the prosecution’s medical leave.. As proceedings had already passed the defendants’ speedy trial deadlines, neither attorney opposed the postponement.
Judge Copeland granted the postponement. The trial is set to resume on Aug. 24, with five days allotted for five days.
