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By
Nicholas Carter
- August 8, 2025
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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The case of Joseph Coates, 41, charged in connection to the Dec. 15, 2023 killing of 26-year-old Marvin Jason Jackson Jr., was postponed in reception court on Aug. 8 to allow his newly appointed defense attorney time to prepare.
Coates faces charges including armed robbery, firearm use in a felony crime of violence, and multiple conspiracy counts. Prosecutors allege Coates acted as an accomplice to Joseph Walker, who was convicted last month of second-degree murder in the same case.
Charging documents state that on Dec. 15, 2023, Baltimore Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on the 1800 block of Aiken Street and found Jackson, 26, with a gunshot wound to the neck. He was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Surveillance footage showed a person said to be Walker shooting Jackson with a gun equipped with a laser before rifling through his pockets, while co-defendant Coates was seen picking up an unidentified item near the victim’s body.
Defense attorney Gregory Fischer, who has only been on the case for one day after the previous attorney withdrew, told the court he would need about a week to review the case materials.
Both parties agreed to reconvene on Aug. 15, at which point they plan to determine a trial date and appoint a new permanent attorney for Coates.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland presided over proceedings.