Murder Trial Postponed Due to Defendant’s Medical Condition

By Nina Wilson - June 3, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A murder trial for a Baltimore County man was postponed due to his medical condition and new evidence. 

Kharod O’Neill, 19, of Owings Mills, Md., is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime and having a loaded handgun in his vehicle and on his person for the death of 20-year-old Jriley Downs on July 3, 2023. 

O’Neill was late to his scheduled jury trial on June 3 after taking an unknown substance and sent for medical evaluation.

At his scheduled trial time before Baltimore City Circuit Court  Judge Jeffrey M. Geller, O’Neill was still being cleared to arrive at court. The assistant state’s attorney could not further clarify O’Neill’s medical state for his family when the proceeding ended.

The case was then moved to Judge Melissa K. Copeland, where she postponed the case saying, “It is not appropriate for Mr. O’Neill to go forward with trial today considering his condition this morning.”  

The defense, James Sweeting III, requested a postponement because of a new firearm report and new witness statements and phone records that he needs to review before going to trial.  

The assistant state’s attorney also raised concerns over the new firearm report because it was the same firearm allegedly used by O’Neill in a previous case in which he pleaded guilty to a carjacking. Sweeting wanted time to place limitations on what can and can’t be admitted in court regarding the firearm.

The new trial date is Sept. 10 before Judge Anthony F. Vittoria. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on July 3, 2023, Downs went to purchase cannabis from a man known as “Cheddar.” Cheddar allegedly got into Downs’ car with a firearm while wearing a ski mask and directed him to an alleyway that Cheddar misrepresented as his aunt’s house. Cheddar then went into the alleyway on the 2200 block of  West Baltimore Street where Downs was shot multiple times in the head. 

A witness identified O’Neill as the suspect in the incident from an array of photos. O’Neill was then arrested as a juvenile, where he allegedly admitted to driving a stolen vehicle. The next day, the death was ruled as a homicide by shooting.