Judge Grants Motions Hearing for Teenage Double-Homicide Defendant

By Amna Syed [former] - November 15, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 15, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland heard defense attorney Howard Cardin request a motions hearing to join three cases facing 18-year-old Jabre Griffith.

The defendant is accused of three crimes, two of which are in connection to a pair of incidents on March 23. In one, he is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, first-degree assault, having a handgun on his person and possessing a firearm as a minor. 

In the second case, Griffith is facing two counts of first-degree murder, five counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, four counts each of attempted first- and second-degree murder, six counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, five counts of first-degree assault and possession of a firearm as a minor. 

In a third case, Griffith faces drug and weapon charges in connection to an incident on June 6.

During the hearing, Judge Copeland asked the prosecution if they had a plea offer for the defendant. The prosecutor said they would have an offer by the end of the week. She explained that she needed to have a conversation with Griffith’s defense attorney in the third case, Michael Tomko, to inform him of the offer. 

Cardin explained to Judge Copeland the prosecution’s offer would not be acceptable for his cases. He also stated that he had filed a motion that all his client’s cases be joined into one case. 

Judge Copeland set the motion hearing to begin on Dec. 5 before Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr., . He instructed both attorneys to follow up with reception court after that hearing to set a trial date. 

According to a Baltimore Police Department press release, detectives arrested Griffith on the belief that he shot and killed 33-year-old boxer Ernest Hall  on the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue and 26-year-old Micah Strong on the 5400 block of York Road, while wounding six additional victims on March 23.