Jury Reaches Not Guilty Verdict in Fells Point Shooting Case

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

Homicide defendant Luciano Bruno and his co-defendants agreed to commit murder in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2022, in Fells Point, a Baltimore City prosecutor told jurors during closing arguments on Feb. 7.

Bruno, 27, and one of his co-defendants, 26-year-old Joel Duncan, were at The Admiral’s Cup restaurant and bar that winter evening when they allegedly had a fight with the victims. After being kicked out of the bar, the prosecutor said, the two men met up with 26-year-old Nathan Presberry and 32-year-old Ronald Maranto and waited for the victims to leave before the attack.

On Feb. 9, the jury found Bruno not guilty of all charges, including attempted murder, multiple counts of assault, and several weapons charges. Duncan and Presberry were previously found guilty of similar charges in January, while Maranto’s trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 10.

During his closing argument, Andre Mahasa, who represented Bruno at trial, suggested that the prosecution and Baltimore Police were particularly interested in finding those who committed this crime because it occurred in Fells Point—a popular destination in Charm City.

The prosecution also noted that the defendant could have parked anywhere but chose to do so near the bar. Yet, it is hard to find parking in that area, Mahasa countered.

Video surveillance footage clearly captured Bruno and Duncan at the bar as well as the four co-defendants outside, the prosecutor said earlier in the proceedings. Police were able to determine that Bruno was in the rear driver’s seat, Duncan was in the rear passenger’s seat, Presberry was in the driver’s seat, and Maranto was in the front passenger’s seat.

Muzzle flashes were seen coming from Maranto, the prosecutor explained.

“Bruno and his accomplices recklessly endangered the lives of people on a Saturday by pulling out a firearm on a busy night in Baltimore,” he said.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Christopher Panos presided over the trial.

Follow this case