Jury Begins Deliberations after Two Days of Testimony in Murder Case

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On Sept. 22, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones, the second day of trial proceeded with the prosecution describing how a defendant drove his car to a woman’s house to help her in an altercation, an altercation that ended in a man being fatally shot.

The prosecutors said defendant Harrison Barnes drove his Mercury Grand Marquis to the women’s house on Nov. 6, 2021, where she was allegedly being physically abused by another man. According to the prosecution, Barnes fled the scene after allegedly shooting the man in the neck after he allegedly struck his female friend.

A detective called by the prosecutor testified that when he arrived at the scene, all the evidence was confined to the living room where the victim’s body was found. In the room, there were 9mm shell casings, a ten live round magazine clip, and damage to the walls, he testified.

The same detective was also questioned about Barnes’ cell records. The detective said they received a warrant for the defendant’s phone records to confirm that the woman had indeed called Barnes for help.

Barnes, 37, is charged with first-degree murder, us a firearm during a felony violent crime, possessing a firearm with a felony conviction, having a handgun in a vehicle, and carrying a handgun on his person in connection to the 2021 shooting.

According to the cell phone records, the woman had contacted Barnes three times at 3:19 p.m., 4:08 p.m., and 4:38 p.m., and lastly, she had made a call to the police approximately around 6:22 p.m. for reports of a shooting. When they arrived, officers found a 60-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The jury began deliberations that afternoon and will resume on Sept. 23.

Get more information on this case here.