Gunshots Fired ‘As Fast As He Could Pull the Trigger,’ Witness Testifies

By Andrew Michaels - April 5, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

When the prosecution asked a witness what made Jan. 11, 2020, memorable to him, the 72-year-old answered without hesitation. “I watched a man get shot.”

The incident in question involved 24-year-old Ronald Haskins who began his jury trial on April 5 for allegedly shooting 38-year-old Richard Pearson on the 1400 block of Broening Highway over two years ago.

Haskins, who is represented by defense attorney Josh Insley, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and firearm possession with a felony conviction. 

During testimony Tuesday afternoon, the resident of the 1400 block of Broening Highway said he and his wife were inside their home around 2:30 p.m. that day when they heard “hollering and screaming” coming from outside, which was not unusual in the neighborhood. After about five minutes, the witness said, he stepped out onto his front porch and saw a man, later identified as Pearson, about 65 yards away, sitting in the driver’s seat of a car with the door wide open.

The witness said Pearson must’ve seen Haskins had a gun because the victim leapt out of the car and began running down the street. Haskins, who the witness said was wearing a big gray coat with a fur collar, then pulled a handgun out of his coat pocket and fired four times, sending Pearson to the ground.

“The first four shots were [fired] as fast as he could pull the trigger,” the witness said. “The man walked over and shot [the victim] again.”

The prosecution clarified that the alleged shooter fired two more shots once the victim was on the ground and then went inside a nearby home.

Another witness testified that Haskins, also known as “Savage,” was in her home on the day of the shooting as well as her son and another person who she referred to as “Man.”

The 58-year-old woman said she was asleep when the shooting occurred and did not hear gunshots. She later spoke with Baltimore Police Department officers and provided private security camera footage from the front of her house, which showed Haskins wearing a coat.

At the end of Tuesday’s testimony, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner informed the jury that the trial was moving faster than expected and will continue on April 6 at 9:30 a.m.