Parties Argue Over Surveillance Footage During Murder Closings

By McKenna Yoder - November 20, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The defense and the prosecution argued over the accuracy of surveillance footage during closing arguments in a homicide before Judge Althea M. Handy of the Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Garry Morris, 24, is charged with first and second-degree murder, first degree conspiracy to murder, use of a handgun in a crime of violence connected to first and/or second degree murder, and carrying a gun in a vehicle.

He is accused of murdering 20-year-old Amare Burruss in December 2022 during a drive-by shooting near the 4200 block of Pimlico Road.

On Nov. 18, his defense attorney, Mary Patton, doubled down on her argument that Morris was frightened by gunfire during a shooting at a McDonald’s, then ran out of a car to hide behind a dumpster. She questioned why it took so long for detectives to come to the conclusion that Morris was there despite there being a witness at the scene. 

The prosecutor was skeptical given footage of Morris’ line of travel. “What unarmed person would run towards gunfire?” she asked the jury. 

Burruss was found with two ammunition magazines and a person identified as Burruss was seen on surveillance video allegedly shooting at one of Morris’ friends before the drive-by murder.

Patton said Burruss’ gun jammed despite having 25 more rounds left before he was shot in the head and chest. Patton claimed the videos were not accurate enough to show who committed a crime compounded by the fact that other cars were driving by.

The prosecution countered that police had been meticulous in their investigation despite surveillance cameras swinging away from the spot where Burruss was killed and where Morris could have gotten out of the car.

The prosecution said Morris had two years to come up with a story about why surveillance cameras weren’t able to pinpoint his location.  

Closing arguments are slated to continue on Nov 19.