Judge Orders Competency Evaluation for Homicide Defendant

By Amna Syed [former] - September 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Sept. 12, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa. M. Phinn scheduled a trial for Nov. 9 for a 24-year-old homicide defendant.

Judge Jeffrey M. Geller previously postponed the trial for 24-year-old Jayquan Bridgeman, saying the defendant should be evaluated for mental illness. 

Judge Phinn asked the defendant’s mother if she believed a competency exam should take place and she agreed. Bridgeman, 24, and his attorney, Isabel Lipman, are scheduled to appear in reception court on Nov. 9 to discuss the results of his competency evaluation and potentially schedule a trial date.

Documents from the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City state that on Oct. 5, 2022, a Baltimore Police Department (BDP) officer responded to the 1400 block of N. Central Avenue in reference to a cutting. Upon arrival, the officer was met by a witness who identified the defendant and the victim, 43-year-old Michael Washington. The witness told the police that Bridgeman stabbed Washington with a switchblade in the abdomen. Baltimore City medics responded and transported the victim to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Despite all medical efforts, Washington was pronounced deceased. 

Court documents also state that the defendant came to the victim’s residence and began assaulting Washington for no apparent reason. The witness stated that Bridgeman told Washington he was going to “kill him” and reached for his switchblade, stabbing the victim. Afterward, the defendant fled the scene and returned with his mother’s house. However, by this time, police had already arrived.  

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Bridgeman was charged with first-degree murder and having a deadly weapon with intent to injure.