Jurors Exposed to Hours of Surveillance Video in Teen Homicide Trial

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A juvenile murder suspect’s trial continued before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy on June 4, with a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) sergeant taking the stand to testify about hours worth of video surveillance evidence.

Judge Handy eventually paused morning proceedings to check in with jurors, who seemed increasingly drowsy and checked out from the trial as the footage dragged on.

Counsel maintained the footage allowed investigators to determine the chronology of events during the incident, as well as track Canada from the incident location across several hours and streets.

Samijae Canada, 17, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one each of felony firearm use, firearm possession as a minor, and carrying a handgun in connection to the murder of Robert Wagner, 18, in 2023. Due to the severity of his charges, Canada is being tried in adult criminal court, rather than as a juvenile.

According to charging documents, on Aug. 17, 2023, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a shooting at the intersection of the 600 block of Cherry Blossom Way and the 600 block of W. Saratoga Street. Upon arrival, they located Wagner in his 2020 Kia Sorento SUV, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body.

The sergeant’s testimony consisted mostly of direct examination in relation to an overwhelming amount of footage from surveillance cameras at and around the crime scene.

Officers also recovered several 9mm shell casings from around the car. Area surveillance footage captured a group of Black males approaching the vehicle’s passenger side and opening open fire. Canada was the only person among the group who allegedly had a gun.

Wagner allegedly attempted to flee the scene, but collapsed and crashed into nearby parked cars. Canada then is discribed as placing a gun underneath another nearby vehicle. Investigators say they recovered the gun the day of the incident. Wagner succumbed to his injuries five days later.

On Nov. 30, 2023, officers arrested Canada in the 2600 block of Quantico Avenue. He was transported to the Central Booking & Intake Facility, where he was charged with first-degree murder.

The trial is still ongoing.