Murder Defendant Charged in Dispute Over a Child

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A murder defendant went before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer for the first day of his trial, June 28.

Samuel Cole is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a loaded handgun in his vehicle and having a loaded handgun on his person.

According to the prosecutor, on January 22, 2022, on the 4700 block of Walther Avenue, Samuel Cole met up with the victim, Jonathan Miller, in order to settle a dispute over how Miller thought Cole was not taking proper care of his child.

When they met up, Cole allegedly shot and killed Miller. Police were called to the scene where they found an unresponsive Miller in the driver’s seat of a white Acura RL that had a Pennsylvania license. Miller was transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A witness connected to the two men later testified that she heard a FaceTime call between the two talking about Cole’s son.

Defense attorney, Jason Silverstein said that the prosecution’s main witness had been lying and never mentioned a white Acura. He also mentioned that Cole is not the child’s father, as indicated by a DNA test done on the child, so it does not make sense for him to care for a child who isn’t his own.

Testimony continues next week.