Judge Admits Video Evidence In Robbery Suspect's Upcoming Trial

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro approved the prosecution’s request to admit new evidence into the jury trial of robbery suspect Reginald Whitaker on March 25.

Whitaker, 29, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery, robbery, theft of an amount less than $100, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, and several other firearm-related charges in connection to a June 27, 2023, shooting.

The prosecution moved to submit video footage from two back-to-back Fells Points robbery incidents from July 3, 2023, informing Judge DiPietro they believe the footage will assist jurors in identifying Whitaker as the man captured in surveillance footage from the June 2023 incident.

The July 2023 incident occurred at a Royal Farms store located on the 2000 block of Fleet Street and resulted in the death of 33-year-old Traquarn Lewis. Whitaker was found guilty of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm use with a felony conviction, having a handgun on person, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed robbery for the incident. He received a sentence of life plus 105 years in prison.

A man, believed to be Whitaker, is seen following Lewis out of the store and saying what sounds like, “I got something for you.”

Lewis is then heard repeating “No,” multiple times before three gunshots ring out, matched by three flashes from the gun’s muzzle.

Whitaker then allegedly relocated to the intersection of S. Wolfe and Gough Streets, where he robbed and shot another victim. According to charging documents, the victim was walking southbound near the incident location when a Black man dressed fully in black approached him and asked him for $5.

When the victim said he could spare $3, the man produced a gun and demanded the victim’s wallet. He rifled through the wallet and discarded items before going into the victim’s bag. The two exchanged words and the victim attempted to resist the robbery. The gunman responded by shooting the victim and fleeing on foot, northbound on S. Broadway toward E. Pratt Street.

Upon arrival, officers found a Black man lying on the ground, bleeding from his left upper abdomen and suffering from a gunshot wound to his left leg. Officers transported the victim to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was listed in stable but serious condition.

Defense attorney Staci Pipkin objected to the prosecution’s motion and expressed concern that the video evidence would leave the jury prejudiced against her client.

“If the state’s issue is determining identity … they have a mountain of evidence regarding those two cases as to identity, corroboration, etcetera,” Pipkin said. “I cannot imagine something more prejudicial as to a criminal defendant than also trying to introduce both videos of other individuals being shot, as well as what almost appears to be a giant defamation of an individual who has been shot.”

Judge DiPietro ultimately approved the video evidence submitted by the prosecution, with the condition that the gunshot sounds remain muted when presented to the jury.

A trial date has yet to be determined.

Judge Admits Video Evidence In Robbery Suspect’s Upcoming Trial