A Baltimore City jury acquitted Coine Larose of first-degree murder and a handgun charge on July 28 in connection with the fatal shooting of Keith Nicholson.
Larose appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Catherine Chen and was represented by defense attorney Michael Tomko.
The jury found Larose not guilty on two first-degree murder counts and not guilty of carrying a handgun on his person.
Charges of firearm use in a felony or violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony or violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a handgun in a vehicle were also dismissed.
According to charging documents, Nicholson, 38, was found suffering from gunshot wounds on the 4300 block of Belair Road on Dec. 31, 2023. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The documents state that surveillance footage showed Nicholson involved in a physical altercation before a white Lexus followed him through the area. Gunshots were reportedly heard as Nicholson attempted to flee. Prosecutors alleged that Larose participated in the earlier altercation and was one of the shooters.
During the trial, the defense raised questions about the lack of direct evidence showing Larose fired a gun, the absence of DNA linking him to the white Lexus, and whether a firearm allegedly connected to him may have changed hands.
The defense also pointed to evidence suggesting that more than one firearm may have been used and questioned divergent in information provided to investigators.
The jury’s reasoning behind the verdict was not discussed in open court.
No further proceedings were scheduled in the case.
