Frankford Avenue Shooting Defendant Claims Self-Defense

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

Counsel began opening statements for a 34-year-old attempted murder defendant accused of shooting the victim outside a northeast Baltimore liquor store Aug. 20.

Desmond Lark is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, transporting a loaded gun and firing and discharging for a shooting on the 5300 block of Frankford Avenue in June 2023.

Before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer, The prosecutor told jurors she’d show surveillance video from a liquor store depicting Lark arguing with the victim before shooting him and fleeing the scene. Lark later lied allegedly in a police interview denying his involvement, but a search warrant executed on his home yielded clothes matching the suspect’s in a container of bleach and live rounds likely matching the caliber used in the shooting.

Defense attorney Roya Hanna explained that Lark was outside the liquor store waiting for friends to pick him up after his car broke down. She argued the victim started the verbal altercation and Lark only acted in self-defense. Hanna said her client will take the stand in his own defense.

Testimony began Tuesday.