Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Glenwood Avenue Attempted Murder

By Amna Syed [former] - November 7, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 6, jurors listened to closing arguments in the attempted murder trial of 38-year-old defendant Isaac Baylis, Jr. before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Myshala E. Middleton. 

Baylis is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, two counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction, possession of firearms during a controlled dangerous substance offense, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City.

The prosecutor said the witness was the victim’s girlfriend who is the mother of Baylis’ children. On Aug. 27, 2022, Baylis allegedly went to the 700 block of Glenwood Avenue, where he planned to take his children out for the day; however, he allegedly got into a verbal altercation with the victim and drove off with his kids.

Approximately 45 minutes later, the prosecutor explained that the defendant came back leading to another argument followed by the shooting. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, the victim was shot in the left buttock and the left forearm and hospitalized

The assistant’s state’s attorney admitted that the victim did not identify the defendant at first because he wasn’t sure was unsure if his girlfriend would approve, as the defendant fathered the victim’s girlfriend’s children. However, after Baltimore Police Department (BPD) talked to his girlfriend he explained the entire incident to the police. 

“You can see the switch in his body language, hear it in his voice,” the prosecutor said, going over the conversation when the victim revealed the identity of his shooter. “Just because the victim waited to tell the truth did not mean he was lying.”

The prosecutor ended her argument by going over the 911 call made by the girlfriend. She said the victim was bleeding out and could not provide details of what happened.

“It’s to sit here and distract you,” the prosecutor said, referring to the defense’s strategy. “[The victim] trusted that you would hold Baylis responsible for his actions.” 

Baylis’ defense attorney, Isabel Lipman, said the prosecution only had one witness, the victim himself, who gave conflicting statements about who exactly shot him. The victim’s girlfriend did not to testify against the defendant, her former boyfriend.

Lipman stated that the victim and his girlfriend decided to pin the blame on Baylis. She called it “bad blood.”

Lipman referenced a conversation between a BPD officer and the victim. The officer asked the victim, “Are you sure [Baylis] shot you?” 

To which the victim responded, “I can’t say I seen anybody else there.” Lipman said the victim never clearly identified the defendant as the man who had shot him. 

According to Lipman, police also found drugs on the victim, but did not investigate this matter. Evidence showed that the victim was not taking drugs; however Lipman theorized that he may have been selling, and someone may have been angry about a transaction, therefore leading to his shooting.