A 31-year-old man charged in a fatal double shooting from last January is set to return to court next week to discuss potential trial dates after dismissing his defense attorney on March 17.
Darren Tomlinson is charged with two counts of murder in the shooting death of 43-year-old Hassan Howard on Jan. 19, 2025. He also faces charges of attempted murder, assault, conspiracy and multiple gun violations for his alleged involvement in the shooting, which also left another man injured inside a car on the 400 block of Washburn Avenue. Law enforcement arrested Tomlinson two months after the incident occurred, on March 19, 2025.
On March 17, Tomlinson’s request to dismiss defense attorney Augustine Okeke followed a state’s request to postpone trial proceedings due to pending ballistic and forensic evidence. Speaking through Okeke, the defendant objected to the state’s postponement request, maintaining his wish to proceed with trial as soon as possible. The disagreement arose when Okeke diverged from his client’s wishes and informed the court he did not oppose the postponement, as he believed the additional evidence could strengthen his defense strategy.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner sent the case to reception court Judge Melissa K. Copeland to review the postponement request.
The following day, March 18, counsel reconvened in reception court to discuss the conclusions of the previous day’s proceedings. Judge Copeland noted she had returned the case to Judge Tanner the previous day, and that Tomlinson had informed the latter judge of his newfound wish to dismiss Okeke from his case.
“Judge Tanner struck the appearance of Mr. Okeke, but I never heard any findings about why she did it,” Judge Copeland told counsel in reception court. “I asked for the full record, and I listened to it. I did not hear that you wished to proceed without counsel.”
Tomlinson agreed he had not wished to enter trial without an attorney, but wanted to obtain new counsel due to irreconcilable disagreements with Okeke.
Tomlinson then met with Greg Fischer, felony chief of the Officer of the Public Defender, who informed the court he believed it optimal to postpone proceedings and give the defendant time to obtain a new defense attorney.
“I believe it would make the most sense for Mr. Tomlinson to have a recess with another attorney,” Fischer told Judge Copeland. “The Office of the Public Defender is willing to assign Mr. Tomlinson another attorney to represent him.”
Judge Copeland announced she had found good cause to postpone proceedings, and ordered parties to reconvene in reception court next week, March 26. She also advised Tomlinson that his trial will likely face a further delay of at least one month, as his new attorney will require additional time to review evidence pertaining to his case.
