Baltimore Woman Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in Shooting of Boyfriend’s Mother

By Melaney Lemaster [former] , Hannah Sawickey [former] - August 10, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

A 23-year-old Baltimore woman was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and carrying a handgun on Aug. 11, following a jury trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey. 

Yates, who was charged in connection to an incident on March 3, is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 1.

Jury deliberations began in the afternoon of Aug. 10 and continued into the morning of Aug. 11, when the jury found Yates guilty of all charges.

According to court documents, Yates met with her then-boyfriend in front of his home to discuss their relationship. During their conversation, Yates realized that he had taken her firearm. Yates asked for her firearm back, and when he did not return it, the two began to tussle over the gun. During the struggle the firearm discharged, shooting the boyfriend’s mother in the chest. 

During closing arguments on Aug. 10, the prosecution argued that Yates knew she was unlawfully carrying the gun. Yates had the loaded gun in her waistband and did not have the proper permit to conceal carry her firearm. The prosecution acknowledged that even though Yates had obtained the firearm legally, she was not permitted to carry it outside of her home.  

The prosecution further argued that Yates was negligent when she was wrestling for the gun and that her pattern of reckless conduct led to the death of the victim. 

Yates’ attorney, Daniel Green, began closing arguments by stating that Yates had a great relationship with the victim. She went to the victim’s aid when the incident occurred and immediately called 9-1-1 when she saw the victim was injured.

Green argued that the pushing and pulling between the defendant and her ex-boyfriend caused the gun to accidentally discharge and when the incident occurred Yates did not have her firearm on her person. 

During the prosecution’s rebuttal, she argued that the defendant’s tears and aid after the incident does not prove innocence and the defense was attempting to gain sympathy from the jury. The prosecution then stated that the actions leading up to the incident and the recklessness that Yates was engaging in made her responsible for the incident.