Phone’s Ownership Key Evidence in Murder Trial

By Kavya Vandavasi [former] - July 30, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Parties presented closing arguments on July 30 in the trial of a 24-year-old homicide defendant in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr. 

Devon Young is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of firearm possession with a felony conviction and one count firearm use in a felony violent crime in relation to the Jan. 27, 2022, murder of 19-year-old Damond Price. 

The assistant state’s attorney said even if there were no forensic evidence  or eyewitnesses at the scene, the videos, phone evidence and the vehicle that the suspects were driving during the shooting were strong proof. A cellphone that appeared to belong to Young was located in the vehicle, and the next phone Young would use supposedly wasn’t activated until two days after Price’s murder. 

Additionally, comparing the vehicle Young was driving when arrested and the vehicle observed in the video footage from the scene, the two appear to be similar models and the same color, as the prosecution pointed out. 

The prosecution finished their closing argument by imploring the jury to use their common sense and find Young guilty, stating “What are the chances that the phone belongs to anyone but Devon Young?”

Defense attorney David Walsh-Little countered that Young had an Android Motorola that was recovered from his vehicle when he was arrested on Feb. 6, 2022. He also mentioned the phone that was found on the scene was wiped down by the lead detective, who said he saw blood on it and assumed it belonged to the victim, removing any potential DNA evidence.

The defense also mentioned the lack of any connection between Price and Young, nor any motive for the murder.

“This is a broken investigation,” Walsh-Little stated, referring to the lack of forensic evidence and motive in the case. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Jan. 27, 2022, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to 4800 block of Lorelly Avenue for a shooting where Price was found at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds.

Surveillance footage of the area showed a vehicle entering a parking lot, and the victim walking over to greet the rear passenger. The two passengers and the driver were allegedly a distraction allowing the shooter to fire at the victim repeatedly. The suspect vehicle fled the scene before police arrived.

A phone that was found at the scene, which was originally cleaned and thought to be the victim’s, was later allegedly found to be Devon Young’s.

The jury began deliberating on July 30.