Jury Returns Not Guilty Verdict for 21-Year-Old Defendant Accused of Attempted Murder

By Brooke Uzzell [former] - April 28, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Featured | Home Page | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

After less than one day of deliberating, jurors entered a not guilty verdict on several different crimes for a non-fatal shooting defendant before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson on April 28. 

Blair Jones, 21, was originally charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to first-degree murder, conspiracy to first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm during a violent crime, conspiracy to use of a firearm during a violent crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, wearing/carrying a handgun within 100 yards of the public, reckless endangerment, discharging firearms, illegal possession of ammo, and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to an incident that occurred on the 1500 block of Russell Street on May 8, 2021, around 3 a.m.

During the trial, the prosecutor confirmed that Jones’ friend, Darl Parker, was the one who shot the victim on the day of the incident. Parker took a 30-year plea deal on April 22. Although Parker committed the shooting, the prosecution emphasized how Jones ordered the shooting to happen. 

Surveillance footage was also gathered from Royal Farms and the Horseshoe Casino, which was consistent with the victim’s testimony that Jones made him feel uncomfortable inside the store. The confrontation inside the store prompted a possible fight to occur outside the store. However, the victim ran away when Parker pulled out a gun. 

Defense attorney Maureen Rowland, who represented Jones, focused the juror’s attention on the lack of physical evidence in this case, mentioning how the prosecution did not call any detectives who investigated the case, or any crime lab technicians to testify. Police did not find a gun on the scene, and there was no warrant executed at the defendant’s residence. 

Jones was found not guilty for attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and conspiracy to second-degree assault. 

However, the jury found him guilty for possessing a firearm with a felony conviction, having a handgun on his person, and reckless endangerment. 

According to Court Reporting Services, Jones’ next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.