Judge Grants Bail to Defendant Accused of Shooting Man on His Property

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A retired Marine Corp. officer accused in a non-fatal shooting case was granted bail by a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge on Aug. 22.

Defendant Antonio Fitzhugh appeared in front of Judge Kendra Y. Ausby with his attorney Martin Cohen.

Cohen stressed that his client had called the police multiple times about drugs being sold in his neighborhood but there was no solution from their end.

According to the defense attorney, on July 27, the defendant told the victim who was sitting on a stoop next door of the defendant’s house, to leave the property.

The victim proceeded to go to the other block, at which time the defendant stressed to the victim to get off the property. After walking back and forth, the defendant then said the victim got agitated and lunged at him with a knife, which made the defendant, who was carrying a gun to shoot in self defense. Fitzhugh has a permit to carry a gun

The prosecutor argued that the victim and the witness that was at the scene were walking away before the defendant came out of his house and told them to “get off the property.” The state attorney believes that the defendant is a danger to the community and to the victim. Therefore, the prosecutor recommends the judge to deny bail. Pretrial agreed that the defendant has no conviction. Although he previously was arrested in Florida, he was never convicted.

Cohn stated that his client is an upstanding citizen with no prior arrest or convictions. He’s been married for 41 years and has two adult children. He was in the Marine Corps. for four years. He also mentioned Fitizhugh worked for The Baltimore Museum of Arts as a security guard for 26 years until he retired.

Judge Ausby considered all sides of the cases and granted the defendant bail but with total house arrest/ electronic monitoring. Fitzhugh to surrender his firearm.

Fitizhugh is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, two counts of reckless endangerment, having loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, and firing a gun in Baltimore city on July 27.