Judge Presides Over Opening Statements in First-Degree Murder Trial

By Jordan Fortuna [former] - October 10, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer presided as the trial began on Oct. 10. Both defense attorney Brandon Mead, and the assistant state’s attorney gave brief opening statements in the first-degree murder case against Preston Feaster. 

Feaster, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, having a handgun on his person, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possessing a rifle with a mental disability and four counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

The assistant state’s attorney intends to present cell phone data, license plate reader data, vehicle documentation and ballistics evidence during trial. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on June 2, 2022, Baltimore Police Department investigators believe Feaster shot and killed Andrew Smith. Smith, 29, was murdered on the 4200 block of Saint Georges Road. Smith was parking his work truck when the crime occurred.

Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives identified Feaster as a suspect because of an interview with an ex-partner of Feaster’s that was in a relationship with Smith at the time. The individual gave Feaster’s phone number, car description and license plate number to police. Police used the data to determine the location of both the car and phone. Baltimore Police Department officers later recovered five guns from the house where Feaster was living.