Prosecutor Accuses Defendant of Fatally Shooting 17-Year-Old in Opening Statements

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On May 9, a Baltimore murder defendant who allegedly shot his housemates and killed a 17-year-old girl was retried.

Defendant Lenny Epps appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton for the death of 17-year-old Alissa Traylor and the injuries of his other housemates after breaking into their home.

The prosecution alleged that Epps, 43, became “enraged” with his girlfriend because she spoke to their other housemates. Then, on Jan. 23, 2021, at 3:00 a.m., while the three housemates were asleep, Epps opened fire and shot Traylor in the back and the two men in the groin area and mouth, respectively.

After being shot, one of the men jumped from the second floor and ran to his aunt’s house to get help. While en route, the man saw a police car and asked for help.

A Baltimore City detective’s body-worn camera captured that the man was unable to identify himself and that he was bleeding from the mouth.

Epps and his attorney Anne Marie Gering, argued that, when the detective asked the man who hurt him, he responded, “I don’t know … some guy with a white Long John T-Shirt.”

The defense also highlighted that no DNA or fingerprint evidence was found that could link Epps to the scene.

Epps is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of home invasion, two counts of use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and second-degree assault in connection to the incident on the 600 block of Lakewood Avenue.

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