Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of in Westside Grocery Attempted Murder 

By Brian Cohen [former] - July 12, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting |

“He had a target in mind and pulled a gun out of his waistband to do exactly what a gun is designed to do, which is kill,” said a Baltimore City assistant state’s attorney during her closing argument on July 7.

A jury found defendant Henry Allen guilty on nine charges for firing a gun at a victim unknown to the court in the middle of the day outside Westside Grocery on May 31, 2022.

The assistant state’s attorney argued that the 26-year-old defendant shot with the intention to kill. Video footage showed Allen pulling his gun out before he approached the victim and fired five times across the street. 

The prosecutor argued before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby the length of time between shots proved Allen’s shooting was premeditated, willful and deliberate, as he had time to think between shots but continued to fire.

Officers had spoken with Allen two days after the incident during their investigation. The defendant happened to be standing across the street from the crime scene wearing the same closing worn in the video. The lead detective in Allen’s case testified that the defendant was the assailant seen in surveillance footage. 

Defense attorney Maureen O’Leary argued there was no physical evidence pinning Allen to the crime during her closing statement. She reminded the jury that her client had maintained his innocence from the beginning.

Allen was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his prior convictions.

The jury found Allen guilty of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, having a handgun on his person, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, discharging a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and firearm use in a felony violent crime. Possession of a firearm with a felony conviction was not sent to the jury.