Evidence Puts Defendant at Crime Scene in Leverton Avenue Murder, Prosecution Says

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As the homicide trial of Melvin Garcercis Tucker came to a close on June 30, the prosecution focused on video footage, license plate readers and a motive that they said links the 43-year-old defendant to the murder of 42-year-old Moses McKnight.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams presided over Tucker’s three-day trial for charges of first- and second-degree murder, felony firearm use in a violent crime, and transportation of a firearm in connection to the deadly shooting on the 3600 block of Leverton Avenue on May 12, 2024.

Tucker was arrested after Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives determined that the white SUV driving away from the crime scene belonged to him.

Surveillance footage and license plate readers (LPRs) captured his vehicle parking in an alley near the shooting. An individual in a multi-colored jacket was seen exiting the vehicle and joining a group of people on the sidewalk that included McKnight. In less than a minute, the person wearing the multi-colored jacket shot McKnight, returned to his vehicle and drove away.

The prosecution heavily relied on the surveillance footage and LPR data in their closing arguments, as well as Tucker’s admission to detectives that he was at the crime scene. The prosecution also emphasized that Tucker had a motive to kill McKnight, who allegedly owed Tucker money.

During Tucker’s interrogation, he denied shooting McKnight multiple times, claiming the victim was “like a brother” to him.

At trial, a witness said she heard Tucker and McKnight arguing about money right before McKnight was shot. When the prosecution asked the witness if she saw the shooter in the courtroom, the witness replied, “No.”

Defense attorney Robert Cole attempted to dismantle the prosecution’s argument by questioning the credibility of the witness’ testimony and BPD’s handling of the evidence. The witness was interviewed multiple times regarding the shooting, but denied knowing the identity of the shooter during the first interview.

She admitted to knowing that Tucker was the shooter during her second interview, but was not shown a picture to identify him until almost a year later, which Cole said was a large mistake on the police’s part.

Cole also reminded the jury that the firearm used in the shooting was found with another individual two months later. There were no DNA swabs or fingerprints taken at the crime scene or when the gun was recovered.

“This is a murder case,” Cole said. “You don’t take shortcuts in a murder case.”

The prosecution countered Cole’s argument by saying that the same firearm had been linked to multiple suspects in multiple shootings.

“It is not unlikely that a gun can travel between people,” the prosecution said. Regarding the eyewitness not identifying the defendant as the shooter, they said, “I’ll never blame her for not wanting to identify this man, and what that would mean for her.”

The jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon.