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By
Abraham Leo
, --- staff --- - February 24, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Juveniles
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Suspects
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Schreiber, II postponed the jury trial for 23-year-old homicide defendant Shaun Bullock, Jr. on Feb. 24 after his defense attorney, Andre Mahasa, fell ill and was unable to appear in court.
Bullock is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injuries, and abuse of a child less than 18 in connection to a Nov. 15, 2021 incident involving his girlfriend’s daughter, 5-year-old Nivea Anderson on the 2800 block of Palham Avenue. Police responding to the scene found Anderson unresponsive and pronounced her dead moments later.
According to charging documents, an autopsy revealed numerous injuries, both old and new, including multiple broken ribs, a lacerated kidney and liver, and contusions and abrasions on Anderson’s head, neck, torso, and extremities caused by multiple blunt force injuries. Medical examiners also found bleeding in her brain and bruises on her left lung and heart.
After an investigation, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) determined that Bullock was likely the only adult at the scene when the injuries occurred. A witness claimed to see Bullock one or two weeks before Anderson’s death, pinning her to a wall and punching her in the face and body.
The court attempted to summon James Sweeting, III to stand in for Mahasa, but Sweeting was occupied with another hearing.
Judge Schreiber decided to postpone the trial for one day and reset the date to Feb. 25.