Pennsylvania Man Accused of Two Murders Within Two Weeks Headed to Trial in Feb. 2024

By Andrew Michaels - November 1, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Pennsylvania man facing multiple murder charges over two separate incidents last year will have his first jury trial in February 2024.

During Baltimore City Circuit Court’s reception court proceedings on Nov. 1, the prosecution and defense attorney Maureen O’Leary agreed to schedule defendant Jaheim Rashawn Battle’s two murder trials back-to-back, beginning Feb. 14 before Judge John A. Howard.

O’Leary will represent the 21-year-old defendant in both cases.

The case discussed on Wednesday pertained to a homicide on Jan. 19, 2022, for which Battle is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of firearm use in a felony or violent crime as well as attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault and being a minor in possession of a firearm.

The prosecutor requested Judge Dana M. Middleton schedule this case behind Battle’s trial for another homicide that occurred on Jan. 30, 2022. He informed the judge that the outcome of the first trial would determine how the prosecution proceeds with the second case.

Battle is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the second incident in addition to armed robbery, conspiracy to armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and being a minor in possession of a firearm.

Although counsel did not discuss the details of the homicide on Jan. 19, 2022, court documents state that on Jan. 30, 2022, Battle followed Clarence Joseph Butler from Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino to the victim’s residence on the 3300 block of Ruekert Avenue shortly after 5 p.m. Battle was accompanied by his sister who knocked on Butler’s front door and asked to use his bathroom.

Battle’s sister then texted her brother and told him to come into the residence as she was leaving. Court documents state Battle allegedly forced his way into the victim’s home at gunpoint, demanded money and threatened to shoot Butler’s wife if they didn’t cooperate.

Butler was shot in the chest when Battle’s girlfriend was in the kitchen and Butler’s wife was running out the front door. In an interview with Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives, Battle allegedly confessed to the robbery and shooting Butler and his sister was also arrested.