Mistrial Declared in Case Against Man Accused of Fatally Shooting Alleged Attempted Robber

By Andrew Michaels , Alyssia Davis [former] - April 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Arguments from counsel were not enough for a Baltimore City jury to determine defendant Keith Taylor’s alleged role, if any, in the murder of Jazzeind Kasif Fulton.

On April 20, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert Taylor Jr. declared a mistrial in Taylor’s case, which is currently scheduled to return to reception court on Oct. 4.

Taylor, 43, is facing first-degree murder and three weapons charges for the 23-year-old victim’s death that occurred during an attempted robbery on April 18, 2020, at an automobile shop on the 2300 block of Evergreen Street.

During his closing argument on Thursday, the prosecutor told jurors that Taylor killed Fulton because the former was upset about the victim’s prior thefts in the area coupled with the lack of police presence. Video surveillance footage was played before the jury depicting the moments leading up to the shooting, which placed both men in the area.

After the shooting, the prosecutor continued, Taylor repeatedly left and returned to the crime scene to see if Baltimore Police had found Fulton’s body. It was during this time when Taylor moved Fulton’s body to the back seat of the victim’s vehicle.

Linda Zeit, Taylor’s defense attorney, argued that the prosecution lacked evidence identifying her client as the quality of the video surveillance made it difficult to identify the suspect and vehicles involved. The police investigation was also questionable, she said, having not explored other possibilities.

“How did the victim’s family find him before the police?” Zeit asked. “Why didn’t [the prosecution] call any of Fulton’s family to testify? They were at the scene acting strange. What were they trying to hide?”

The prosecutor’s case lacked solid evidence against Taylor, she concluded.