Man Accused of Apartment Stairwell Homicide Headed to Trial in June 2022

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Following a Baltimore grand jury’s indictment earlier this year, homicide defendant Steven Melton is scheduled for trial in June 2022 in Baltimore City Circuit Court after rejecting a plea on Dec. 10.

Steven Melton, 38, is accused of fatally shooting Dominik Carr on April 5 in an apartment complex on the 2800 block of Edgecombe Circle, according to CBS Baltimore. The Baltimore resident is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

During reception court on Friday, the prosecution offered Melton a plea of life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. Defense attorney Karyn Meriwether, who stood in for Michael Cooper, said she had problems relaying the offer to Melton due to technical issues. However, when asked by Judge Melissa M. Phinn whether he’d like to accept or reject the plea, Melton rejected the offer.

Melton was then scheduled for trial on June 28, 2022.

CBS Baltimore previously reported that Melton was seen going to the victim’s apartment building shortly after 12:33 p.m. this past April. Melton was then seen leaving the victim’s building just before 2 p.m.

Baltimore Police Department officers later found Carr’s body in a stairwell with multiple gunshot wounds.

In addition to recovering nine shell casings, eight fragments, and a handgun from the scene, CBS Baltimore reported, police learned that the defendant pulled a handgun on Carr during a fight less than a month before the victim’s death.