Prosecution’s Evidence ‘Very Narrow’ in East 23rd St. Shooting, Defense Says

By Andrew Michaels - April 1, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore man accused of fatally shooting 28-year-old Desmond Williams last June was released on electric home monitoring on April 1 after his defense attorney revealed limited evidence in the prosecution’s case.

Tarence Jones, 31, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson for a bail hearing on Friday after previously having been denied bail in September 2021. Jones is charged with first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime in connection to Williams’ death on June 13, 2021.

According to defense attorney Todd Oppenheim, Williams’ body was found in a row home shortly after 12 p.m. on the 400 block of E. 23rd Street. The victim suffered from massive trauma to his abdomen and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

Oppenheim informed the court that Jones was moving stuff into his apartment building on the night of incident and later cooperated with the Baltimore Police Department’s investigation, identifying himself in video surveillance footage from a gas station.

“The state’s own witnesses described the victim as a cancer to the household,” Oppenheim said. “A lawfully possessed weapon was used to shoot this individual once with a rifle. Nobody knows who exactly did this.”

The defense attorney said the video footage was “very narrow” and that “there shouldn’t be a blanket rule that people are just held without bail.”

An assistant state’s attorney said no weapon or witness was found.

Judge Jackson ruled to release Jones on electronic home monitoring.

Jones, who previously rejected a plea offer in February, has a jury trial currently scheduled for Aug. 1.