Following a two-day trial, a jury convicted a Baltimore man of second-degree assault–but not a greater charge– in connection to an altercation-turned-shooting that occurred outside Gentlemen’s Gold Club in May. The venue features adult entertainment.
Malik Oakes, 29, was acquitted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and four gun violations. The verdict was delivered before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro.
The jury’s decision followed extensive testimony from the victim, who acknowledged consuming at least ten alcoholic drinks prior to the incident. Witnesses claimed he was ejected from the club due to his drunken behavior. As defense attorney Jason Ott questioned him, he recanted several statements he gave during his initial police interview, including admissions about hearing gunfire or details about how the confrontation began.
When pressed on inconsistencies, the victim admitted gaps in his memory due to his intoxication at the time. “I must’ve had it wrong,” he told Ott.
Detectives testified that Oakes acted argumentatively during his initial detention, but admitted to legally possessing a gun. Investigators recovered a Glock 22 with a chambered round from the floor of his vehicle after stopping him shortly after the incident. However, no shell casings were recovered from the scene, and the prosecution investigators’ decided to forgo gunshot residue testing.
An acquaintance of Oakes who is familiar with the club’s staff testified he witnessed Oakes slap the victim, but denied seeing or hearing gunfire. He claimed Oakes and multiple other bystanders told the victim to leave before things escalated. Multiple witnesses testified that the victim was significantly intoxicated, including officers who responded to the scene.
The prosecution argued that circumstantial evidence and the victim’s testimony supported the presence of a gun at the scene, asserting that Oakes brandished a firearm unlawfully.
Ott countered that the state relied on leaps in logic and pointed out contradictions in the victim’s recollection of the incident, as well as the lack of direct evidence of a firearm being present during the altercation.
The jury ultimately rejected the state’s theory, only convicting Oakes of second-degree assault.
Oakes is now set to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2026 before Judge DiPietro.
