Procedural Issues Delay a Non-Fatal Shooting Case

By Destiny Rodriguez - April 8, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On April 8, a 29-year-old non-fatal shooting defendant appeared for trial but the proceedings were delayed. one year ago. Overseeing the case was Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gregory Sampson.

Christian R. Johnson, of Mableton, Ga., is charged with having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun on his person, reckless endangerment and firing and discharging a gun.

During the hearing, defense attorney Catherine Tarantino asked for postponement due to Johnson’s Baltimore County defense attorney, Creston P. Smith, not being present, as there was confusion about payments and scheduling.

The problems stem from a warrant Johnson has for another case in the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Smith was not present for today’s hearing as he hadn’t received Johnson’s payment for representation in this  matter. 

Judge Sampson accepted a motion for postponement and sent the defendant before Judge Melissa K. Copeland in reception court. There, Judge Copeland rescheduled the one-day trial to be set for May 23 before the Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr..

According to District Court of Maryland Court documents, the incident occurred on March 31, 2023. A Baltimore Police Department (BPD)  officer was conducting a traffic stop, when he was approached by a witness. During this interaction, the witness explained that someone had been shot in The ChopTank restaurant on the 1600 block of Aliceanna Street. Witnesses indicate that Johnson “unintentionally shot himself.”