Defendant Rasean Smith was released on 24/7 home detention lockdown on July 17 when his defense counsel argued that his client only shot at two unknown suspects after they shot him and his coworker inside the Adnan and Sadek Deli and Grocery last month.
Smith is currently charged with multiple counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder and first-degree assault in addition to several firearms violations.
According to defense attorney Daniel Mooney and court documents, Baltimore Police recovered the store’s video surveillance that shows two fully masked men — who remain unidentified — walk into the store and shoot in the direction of two employees, Smith and a second victim, around 9:20 p.m. The defendant was shot in his stomach, and his coworker suffered a graze wound to the left side of his head, Mooney told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby on Friday.
Both victims were taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, court documents state. Mooney said Smith was later transferred to the Metropolitan Transition Center (MTC) correctional facility hospital and denied pain medication before being transported back to Johns Hopkins to treat an internal infection.
Mooney said the suspects then immediately left the store, going south on Harford Road. The prosecutor informed the court that Smith quickly pulled out his own handgun and returned fire.
“Mr. Smith was not on their heels,” Mooney responded. “He had to physically try to patch [his] wound” before he ran outside the store and fired at the unidentified suspects. “This is a case in which Mr. Smith was a victim.”
After responding to the store, Baltimore Police found Smith shortly after on the 1100 block of N. Central Ave. Smith told police he ran back to his home after he was shot.
Earlier in the proceeding, the prosecution told Judge Ausby that she received a note from a detective about a recent concerning jail call made by Smith. He is alleged to have said, “There will be carnage,” once he is released, the prosecutor said.
Neither attorney had heard the jail call prior to Smith’s bail review.
The prosecutor also informed the court of Smith’s prior convictions, including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, illegal possession of ammunition as well as illegal possession of a regulated firearm and having a handgun in a vehicle.
Judge Ausby agreed to release Smith, who will reside with this grandmother, but noted he may only leave the home for medical reasons if he has a doctor’s note or it is an emergency.
