Man Claims Self-Defense for Attempted Murder of Girlfriend’s Stepfather

By Racquel Bazos - February 28, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Feb. 27, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson presided over opening statements for the attempted murder trial of a 20-year-old man accused of shooting his girlfriend’s stepfather last summer. 

Tyresse Flemming is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a July 2023 incident. 

The prosecution’s stated that Flemming’s girlfriend’s stepfather threw a punch at Flemming when he and his stepdaughter came to his house on the 5000 block of East Preston Street to pick up their dog.

Her stepfather was angry at Flemming because he heard Flemming had gotten physical with his stepdaughter during a recent argument. During the altercation, the prosecutor told jurors Flemming grabbed his gun and shot the victim once in the shoulder. 

Defense attorney John Cox asked that jurors pay close attention to witness testimony. “See whether or not this story adds up,” he began, explaining that Flemming’s girlfriend will testify and will not refer to her stepfather as her stepfather. 

“She is scared of [him],” Cox said. On top of that, he claimed the victim had only seen Flemming three or four times in the two years that he had been dating his stepdaughter, meaning he was not closely involved in his stepdaughter’s life.  

Cox will argue Flemming acted in self-defense and regardless of motive, the incident was not an attempted murder. He implied the victim was not gravely injured since he went back into his house and drank a beer while waiting for Baltimore Police Department officers to respond. 

Testimony began Tuesday and is expected to continue until Feb. 28.