Prosecution’s Schedule Forces Trial Delay in Appleton Street Murder

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The prosecution asked for postponement of the murder trial of 29-year old Kemonta Johnson in a hearing on Oct. 7.

Johnson is charged with first-degree murder, a felony violent crime, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction for an incident on Nov. 24, 2021.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams granted the request due to the prosecution’s not being available until after Friday, Oct. 11 and having 17 witnesses to cross-examine.

Johnson and his defense attorney Jason Rodriguez will be back in court on Oct. 8 virtually to schedule a new trial date.
According to charging documents, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers received a ShotSpotter alert to the sounds of gunfire on the 1000 block of Appleton Street, where they found 30-year-old Dontae Johnson suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Detectives identified the suspect from a car seen on surveillance footage. Johnson was arrested days after the murder after being seen driving the car.