Jury selection began Oct. 9 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner in the first-degree murder case of defendant Derrick Ashe.
Ashe is charged with first-degree murder, multiple firearms charges, and the illegal possession of ammunition for his alleged connection with the killing of Jemmell Dixon, 36.
According to charging documents, an officer from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) responded to a report from bystanders at the 1000 block of W. North Avenue. Upon arrival, the officer observed a male victim, later identified as Jemmell Dixon, lying on the ground near an Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus stop shelter suffering from a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. Dixon was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During the crime scene investigation, BPD detectives recovered a single 9mm cartridge casing from the scene. After reviewing surveillance footage and conducting interviews with witnesses, detectives were allegedly able to identify Derrick Ashe as the suspect.
BPD officers then carried out a search and seizure warrant at Ashe’s home on the 1900 block of Division Street. In their search, officers allegedly recovered twenty-four live 9mm ammunition rounds and the clothes that they believed Ashe was wearing at the time of the murder. Ashe was transported to the homicide unit and, while being questioned, was said to identify himself in the surveillance footage.
Ashe’s defense attorney, Natalie Finegar, and the prosecutor were unable to reach a plea agreement.
The trial is set to start on Oct. 13 before Judge Yolanda A. Tanner.
