Homicide Defendant's Alibi Didn't Speak with Baltimore Police, Prosecutor Says

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Defense counsel’s sole alibi witness and friend of homicide defendant Ricky Crenshaw testified that he declined to give a statement to a Baltimore Police Department detective investigating the 47-year-old’s alleged involvement in the murder of Terence Cheatham last year.

On May 9, during questioning from defense attorney Brandon Patterson, the witness testified that he and Crenshaw were with each other from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on March 21, 2023, playing video games and watching football in between smoke breaks outside.

The witness said he learned of Crenshaw’s arrest through the “Baltimore Murder Ink” Instagram account and never spoke with police about the shooting that occurred that day.

The witness said he was contacted by Patterson soon after learning about Crenshaw’s arrest and the murder charges against him.

However, when questioned by the prosecution, the witness acknowledged that he was contacted by police on May 4—three days before Crenshaw’s trial began—and told the detective he did not want to make a statement.

The prosecutor also claimed that the witness spoke with Crenshaw over the phone on the evening of May 8 when the defendant allegedly told his friend, “I need y’all tomorrow. …I need you to be direct and leave it alone.” The witness responded that he was speaking with another friend, who he referred to as “Face,” and not the defendant.

During closing arguments Thursday morning, the prosecutor told the jury it was clear that the witness was lying during his testimony and that the evidence identifies Crenshaw as Cheatham’s killer. The prosecution reminded the jury of the 16-year-old witness who recorded the shooting, called the police and later testified at trial.

“She memorialized what happened [and] Thank God she did,” the prosecutor said. “…She called 911 because she wanted to help.”

Patterson countered that the case’s circumstantial evidence “leaves room for error,” noting that recovered clothing and jewelry could not be directly tied to Crenshaw. According to defense counsel, the witness described the shooter as a black man in his 20s wearing all black clothing, eye glasses and a mask.

“The little girl didn’t come in here and say, ‘I saw his face,’ or point to [the defendant] or do a photo array,” Patterson said.

Following closing arguments before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer, the jury began their deliberations Thursday afternoon.

Homicide Defendant’s Alibi Didn’t Speak with Baltimore Police, Prosecutor Says