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By
Ting Hong [former]
, Ashleigh Joplin [former] - February 14, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert Taylor declared a mistrial on Feb. 10 in the case of one of Baltimore’s most wanted violent offenders after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision.
Defendant Lenny Epps allegedly killed 17-year-old Alissa Traylor and injured two men on Jan. 23, 2021, after breaking into their home on the 600 block of Lakewood Avenue.
“[He] heard shots and [he] left,” defense attorney Ann Marie Gering said to the jury during closing arguments on Friday, saying there was nothing that proved her client was the shooter accused of killing Traylor and injuring the two men.
Gering concluded that the lack of evidence would only lead to speculation. She also noted the lack of consistency in the witness testimonies.
Gering played the body camera footage from a Baltimore police officer from the night of the incident, which showed the officer questioning a witness.
“Someone entered the room,” said the witness on the video.
The anonymity of the individual that entered the room was insufficient proof of the shooter’s identity, argued Gering. One of the injured men testified that he passed out and never saw anyone when he heard the gunshots, she said.
The prosecution counsel presented the jury with graphic photos of Traylor’s autopsy. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, one of which severed her spinal cord.
Police found a box of 28 bullets, along with an identification and debit card associated with Epps, according to the prosecutor. In addition, the second injured victim identified Epps as the shooter when photos were presented.
Epps, 43, is currently scheduled for a retrial on May 8 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana Middleton. It is expected to last for four days.
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 murder of Traylor.