Jurors began deliberating on Nov. 17 after counsel delivered closing arguments in the case of a Baltimore man charged in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend on the shoulder of interstate highway I-83.
Christopher Lee, 29, is charged with first- and second-degree murder and related firearm offenses for his alleged involvement in the killing of his 30-year-old girlfriend, Jazmyn Reed. The shooting occurred after the couple left a bar and began arguing inside Lee’s vehicle, prosecutors said.
The prosecution pointed to statements Lee made during his 911 call, highlighting the moment he said, “I had a girlfriend. I have a girlfriend and she reached for my weapon,” noting that he shifted from past to present tense when referring to Reed.
Prosecutors said Lee claimed he was “scared for his life,” yet never requested medical assistance for Reed as she lay dying in the passenger seat. They emphasized that Lee had time to think about what he was going to tell police before calling 911 and that his vehicle was neatly parked on the shoulder of I-83, which they argued was inconsistent with a chaotic accidental discharge during a struggle.
Prosecutors also pointed to physical evidence that included an imprint on one side of Reed’s face, which they said was consistent with the muzzle of a Glock 43X, Lee’s 9mm pistol. They told jurors it is uncommon for people to shoot themselves in the face, particularly with their non-dominant hand, undermining any claim of self-inflicted injury by the victim.
In clips of body-worn camera footage, officers arriving at the scene could be heard stating, “That woman is dead,” while reading Lee his Miranda rights. Although Lee later told police that Reed grabbed the gun from under the seat, the prosecution argued that the forensic evidence and Lee’s shifting explanations did not support an accidental shooting.
Defense counsel Lawrence Greenberg, who was representing Lee, responded by urging jurors to use common sense, describing the incident as occurring in a matter of 22 seconds and arguing that police formed a conclusion before collecting evidence. Counsel said investigators engaged in confirmation bias from the beginning, treating Lee as a murderer without considering an accidental explanation. The defense pointed to Lee’s demeanor on the 911 call as that of a frightened, devastated young man who immediately sought help and told dispatchers he was not leaving the scene.
The defense also argued that Reed grabbed for Lee’s gun during the argument and that it discharged accidentally. Counsel noted that Lee was handgun-qualified, remained at the scene, and cooperated with police. They insisted that officers ignored facts that did not fit their initial theory, calling the shooting an accident.
In rebuttal, prosecutors questioned why Lee, who his mother testified was in nursing school, did not check Reed’s pulse, and asked how the gun ended up pointed directly at Reed’s face if she had only grabbed at it.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer presided over proceedings which will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.
