Following several hours of deliberations on Oct. 17, jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of 66-year-old Norman Waker, who stands accused of fatally shooting 79-year-old Clyde Barnes and injuring another resident at the Pleasant View Gardens senior living facility in Central Baltimore in February.
Waker is charged with first-degree murder and assault, attempted murder, assault, felony firearm use, and having a handgun on his person for allegedly shooting Barnes to death and shooting another 72-year-old resident in the neck on Feb. 20.
Although Waker initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, Waker’s defense attorney, Matthew Connell, maintained that his client acted in self-defense. Counsel had concluded their closing arguments earlier the same day.
The case is now set to be rescheduled before Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Oct. 24.
