Opening Statements Delivered in Dispute Over $300 Which Lead to 2021 Shooting

Baltimore Courthouse

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Sixteen shots were the number of times attempted homicide defendant Donte Price allegedly fired a gun at his friend, striking him four times, over a $300 dispute between the defendant and a third party.

During opening statements on Jan. 17, the prosecution said that Price, 29, and his friend had multiple conversations at a shopping center on the 5300 block of Frankford Avenue on April 22, 2021, when the defendant became frustrated over $300 that his friend’s friend allegedly owed him. Price’s friend had tried to resolve the issue between the defendant and the third man; however, the attempt ended with shots fired.

“He emptied his clip 16 times at [his friend’s] vehicle and at close range,” the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney Andre Mahasa countered that he would tell the defendant’s side of the story through evidence, or lack thereof, as no DNA or forensic evidence was recovered, nor were witnesses of the crime interviewed.

“You must make your decision based on the evidence,” said Mahasa, who described the evidence as “incomplete.”

Testimony began Tuesday morning and continued into the afternoon before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones.

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