East Lafayette Shooting Suspect Nixes Plea, Wants Joint Trial

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K Copeland reset Nicholas Keating’s pre-trial conference date to late August on July 23, following counsel’s notice of intention to join Keating’s case with that of another suspect. However, no joinder motion has been filed.

Keating, 37, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony crime of violence, reckless endangerment, and several firearm and conspiracy violations charges in connection to a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred April 24, on the 100 block of E. Lafayette Street.

According to charging documents, at approximately 9:51 a.m. the day of the incident, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a call for an aggravated assault resulting from a shooting and located a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower back, presumably sustained sometime earlier that night.

Later, at approximately 1:42 a.m. the following morning, officers responded to gunshots on East North Avenue where they located Keating hiding on the 1800 block of Lovegrove Street. Officers also recovered two 9mm guns and 12 shell casings from the scene.

Area surveillance footage captured a person identified as Keating arguing with the victim. Nearby, a previously unidentified male was seen producing a firearm and shooting at the victim.

In response, Keating allegedly produced his own firearm. He and the unidentified male then pursued the fleeing victim, who then fell to the ground. Keating, police say, began approaching the victim, but quickly fled as police entered the scene.

During the hearing, the prosecution offered Keating a plea of life, suspending all but 30 years, the first five to be served without possibility of parole. The offer also required Keating to serve five years of supervised probation upon release.

Defense attorney Arthur Baker rejected the offer on behalf of Keating.

The court agreed to postpone setting a trial date to allow parties time to submit a motion to join Keating’s case with 46-year-old Antoine Manley’s who, like Keating, was charged in the same crime with attempted first-degree murder, as well as other related violations in an indictment on July 22.

To allow parties time to prepare their motion, Judge Copeland ultimately rescheduled the pre-trial conference for Aug. 25.