Lack of Jurors, Courthouse Evacuation Postpone 17-Year-Old’s Attempted Murder Trial

By Andrew Michaels - November 3, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Two unsuccessful attempts to select a jury caused the postponement of 17-year-old Laronte Collins’ attempted murder trial, originally slated to begin on Nov. 1.

The case is currently scheduled to return to reception court on Nov. 6 to reschedule the trial.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles J. Peters was set to preside over the defendant’s jury trial, beginning Wednesday, in connection to an alleged attempted murder on June 6, 2021. However, there were not enough jurors available to begin the selection process when the judge called for a panel.

A separate attempted murder trial and a homicide trial were able to complete jury selection on Wednesday, with a second homicide trial already underway.

The prosecution and defense attorney Brandon Taylor agreed to push jury selection to the following day. They were, once again, thwarted when the courthouse was evacuated around 10:30 a.m. due to the delivery of “a suspicious package,” according to the city’s Sheriff’s Office. 

The substance was later found non-hazardous and court resumed around noon.

By Thursday afternoon, the attorneys’ requested to postpone the trial given their availability.

Collins is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, being a minor in possession of a firearm, having a handgun within 100 yards of a public place, having a handgun on his person and discharging firearms as well as two counts of reckless endangerment.