Jury Selection Postponed in 2020 Killing of 18-Year-Old

By Andrew Michaels - September 23, 2021
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Home Page | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Jury selection for the murder trial of James Boisseau was postponed on Sept. 23 due to COVID-related issues.

According to a courtroom clerk, jury selection is now slated to begin on Sept. 24, with the trial beginning as early as Sept. 27.

Boisseau, 18, and his two co-defendants, 18-year-old Devin Thompson and 19-year-old Deshon Walker, all face nearly two dozen counts of murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, armed robbery, and handgun-related charges. The trio are charged in connection to the death of 18-year-old Riyad Campbell on March 29, 2020, on the 2400 block of Tolley Street.

Boisseau and Walker are being tried separately, while Thompson previously informed the court in July that he was willing to testify against his co-defendants, in turn, delaying his sentencing to January 10, 2022.

Boisseau was previously offered a plea of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder in early July, which was rejected by his defense attorney, John Cox.

During the July 23 proceeding, Thompson’s defense attorney, David Zwanetz, told the court that Boisseau and Walker—who is represented by defense attorney Tony Garcia—picked up Thompson in a car and that his client knew Boisseau and Walker had handguns with plans to shoot three young men. 

Walker then met the intended targets at a local liquor store and was asked to buy alcohol for them. Walker declined. The victims then asked a homeless person to buy them alcohol.

When the three men were leaving the store, a large group of people, including Boisseau, Walker and Thompson, robbed them, hitting one of the victims on the head with a handgun. The victims ran to their car to drive away but were shot.

Campbell was shot in the spine and taken to the Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital emergency room, where he died from his injuries.

The current conditions of the other two victims were not discussed.

Thompson was later identified by one of the victims from his Instagram pictures. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland has since made a referral for Thompson to go to the Patuxent Institution Youth Offender Program.

Both Walker and Thompson are scheduled for reception court on Sept. 29.