Mondawmin Mall Shooter Identified Based on Baltimore Detectives’ Assumptions, Defense Argues

By Andrew Michaels - August 26, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Baltimore Police detectives investigating the shooting outside Mondawmin Mall last December gathered a lot of information, but, according to defense attorney Natalie Finegar, determining the identity of the shooter left the department “scratching their heads.”

Turning to others within the department for a possible suspect led to the arrest of 20-year-old Darrien Gaither, who defense says was identified based on assumptions.

Gaither’s jury trial began in the late afternoon on Aug. 23 after a rigorous jury selection process. The defendant is currently charged with multiple counts of attempted first and second-degree murder as well as several assault, reckless endangerment and weapons charges.

During opening statements, the prosecutor said one of the victims, a UPS delivery man, was making a routine stop at Mondawmin Mall, where he was talking to two other people outside on the 2400 block of Liberty Heights Avenue on Dec. 29, 2023. The three people then hit the ground when gun fire rung out “over and over and over and over again,” she said, during which the UPS driver was struck in his ankle.

When police reviewed security footage, they determined there were six suspects involved. Detectives attempted to identify the suspects internally and were notified of Gaither’s alleged involvement from another detective who was familiar with the defendant.

“Lets not get caught up in the emotion and what could’ve been a mass shooting,” Finegar told the jury on Friday.

The defense attorney questioned the department’s investigation, saying there is no evidence the six people “acted together knowingly.” The crime scene was much larger than the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) is accustomed to, she continued, adding that the video surveillance cameras outside the mall only captured evidence from a distance.

Testimony began Friday afternoon before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard and is expected to continue on Aug. 26.