Jury Hears Closing Arguments for Attempted Murder of Girlfriend’s Stepfather

By Kyle Pellegrino - February 29, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Feb. 28, the jury heard closing arguments in the Tyresse Flemming attempted murder case before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson. Flemming stands accused of the attempted murder of his girlfriend’s stepfather.

Flemming, 20, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a July 20, 2023, incident.

The prosecution said Flemming wasn’t welcome at the house of his girlfriend’s stepfather. She created a timeline saying, Flemming and his girlfriend parked a car down the block, walked back to a house on the 5000 block of East Preston Street, approached with a gun, fired a shot at his girlfriend’s stepfather, then fled the scene.

“You left because you shot him. You left because you illegally possessed the firearm,” the prosecutor said. “It was unjustified.”

Defense attorney John Cox asked the jury to look at the law carefully because the prosecution could not prove various aspects of the case.

Cox asked the jury, “How does the prosecution know that [Flemming’s girlfriend’s stepfather] wasn’t going to beat him down?”

Cox went on to say that Flemming’s girlfriend’s stepfather was the “initial aggressor,” and Flemming’s fear was justified, because his girlfriend’s stepfather was a “bad person and showed his true colors on the witness stand.”

The prosecutor responded by telling the jury that “because Flemming’s girlfriend’s stepfather wasn’t a good person doesn’t mean that he was going to hurt Flemming.”  She concluded, “Even though it was brief, there was premeditation.”