Jury Reads Verdict in Attempted Murder Trial

By Jordan Fortuna [former] - November 10, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Nov. 9, the jury foreperson delivered a verdict in the attempted murder trial of Derrien Gamble before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.

Gamble, 20, represented by defense attorney James Sweeting III, was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded handgun. He was charged in connection to the Feb. 4 non-fatal shooting of two victims. 

He will be sentenced on these counts on March 12, 2024.

The jury was unable to make a decision on the counts of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempted murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime and reckless endangerment. 

There were 25 charges that were not sent to the jury. 

After the verdict was read, Gamble appeared in reception court, where Judge Dana M. Middleton continued his hearing and will  return to reception court on Nov. 30 to schedule his retrial on the remaining charges.

During closing statements on Nov. 8, Sweeting stated this was “a case of misidentification” and that “misidentifications happen.” He said that because the incident was only 15 seconds long and happened at night, he doubted that a fearful victim could make a reliable identification. 

The prosecution said that the defendant’s actions were “willful, deliberate and premeditated.” He called the attack on the victims “a coordinated ambush.” 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to the scene on the 1500 block of Medford Road, where they found two victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. There were 38 .9mm casings and two .40 caliber casings recovered. Gamble was identified through a photo array shown to one of the alleged victims.