Opening statements were heard before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole K. Barmore on Dec. 9 for Tyrone Bennett, 34, who is on trial for first-degree murder and four related firearm charges.
Donte Long, 51, was shot the evening of Dec. 16, 2023, on the 1300 block of N. Bradford Street. Medics transported Long to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased around 7:30 p.m. that same day, just two hours after law enforcement’s initial response.
An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that Long’s manner of death was a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to his left hip.
In the prosecution’s opening statement, their attorney claimed that Bennett “sprayed a bunch of shots” at the intersection of E. Preston Street and N. Bradford Street and that Long was hit by one of the stray bullets while outdoors washing his car.
“He didn’t even see the bullet coming,” the prosecutor stated, explaining that Long’s back was turned to Bennett at the time of the incident.
The prosecution stated they have video footage, cellular data evidence, and testimony from several experts that will prove the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Think about this like a clean sheet of paper,” said defense attorney William Buie III as he began his opening statement. Buie went on to call the state’s video evidence inconclusive, and claimed a lack of DNA or fingerprint evidence tying his client to Long’s death.
Further witnesses are set to testify before the court.
