Prosecution Questions Victims Recant During Closing Arguments in Trial

By Alyssia Davis [former] - November 10, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Defense counsel in the non-fatal shooting trial of Keith Johnson questioned the validity of the victim’s initial testimony, which identified the defendant as the shooter during closing arguments on Nov. 10 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Schiffer. 

Keith Johnson, 31, is charged with first and second-degree attempted murder, first and second-degree assault, home invasion, conspiracy to home invasion, armed robbery, conspiracy to armed robbery, robbery, conspiracy to robbery, third-degree burglary, conspiracy to third-degree burglary, use of a firearm in a violent crime, fourth-degree burglary, conspiracy to fourth-degree burglary, having a handgun on his person, use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure, reckless endangerment, and discharging firearms for allegedly shooting a 32-year-old man on April 17 on the 3000 block of Tioga Parkway around noon. 

During closing arguments on Wednesday, the prosecutor said her main point was to find out the truth about what happened on that day, which resulted in someone being shot two times. The prosecutor said the victim told the truth about who broke into his home and proceeded to shoot him twice, reiterating that it was Johnson who forced himself into the home of the victim with a gun. 

According to the prosecution, the reason Johnson was angry was because the victim allegedly mistreated his girlfriend, who is the defendant’s sister. the prosecutor added that Johnson forced the victim out of his home into an alleyway behind his home, shooting him in the left arm and torso.  

The prosecutor continued her closing argument by saying that although the victim changed his story three months later, he did not lie about what happened. The victim did not frame Johnson for attempted murder, she said, but rather insinuated that Johnson is guilty of all charges. 

She suggested that Johnson thoroughly thought about the crime beforehand, especially since he allegedly committed the crime with another unidentified man. Johnson allegedly threatened the victim with a gun and stole approximately $640. 

Defense attorney Tony Garcia argued that no one should believe the victim’s initial statement because he confessed to lying to the police to save himself. He added that Johnson had no real motive to shoot the victim and that the motive over the alleged fight makes no sense.  

In addition, Garcia added that there was no evidence, fingerprints, signs of a struggle, or DNA to prove Johnson is guilty. Garcia noted that the victim mentioned that he heard someone, at the time, of the incident but could not identify the person or describe them to police. 

Defense suggested that the reason the victim was shot is from a drug deal gone wrong. 

The jury began deliberations on the morning of Nov. 10.