Police Evidence Presented in Murder Retrial

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The second murder trial of Anton Harris, 37, continued with prosecution testimony on Aug. 1 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones.

Harris is accused of a murder on May 4, 2022. According to charging documents, officers responded to a call regarding a shooting on the 500 Block of N. Pulaski Street. They arrived on the scene to find Keith Johnson, 43, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Bullet fragments, a pool of suspected blood and one bullet casing were also found at the scene. A witness allegedly flagged down and informed an officer the suspect was near still near the scene, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

The officer reportedly located the suspect and pursued him on foot until he was arrested at the 2300 block of Loretta Avenue. Multiple witnesses claimed to have seen the suspect fleeing the scene. Harris was convicted of the crime.

However, The Appellate Court of Maryland reopened Harris’ case on Dec. 16, 2024, almost two years after he received a 40-year sentence.

Harris called his previous jury trial unconstitutional, noting that one witness summoned to testify against him suffered a stroke that caused memory loss and affected testimony.

In the new proceeding, the prosecution called multiple officers that responded for calls of a shooting and to provide assistance. Footage presented to the jury from one of the officer’s body-worn cameras showed Harris being taken into custody.

The prosecution also moved to admit the testimony of the enfirmed witness from the last trial who told police in 2022 that she heard two gunshots, looked outside and witnessed the suspect fleeing the scene.

This motion was denied because of contradictions in her earlier testimony to police.

The trial will continue Monday, Aug. 4.