A Baltimore man’s trial that was set to begin June 29 will instead return to reception court because lawyers weren’t available to litigate the case.
John Larry Booker, 23 is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and multiple conspiracy and firearm charges. The charges stem from his alleged role in a May 17 shooting on the unit block of E. Cross St.
Neither the prosecutor nor the defense attorney were unable to start the trial today before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Hope Tipton.
The prosecutor underwent emergency surgery recently and defense attorney Jason Ott is stuck in another trial.
According to surveillance footage, Booker and others were involved in an altercation with another group altercation after Booker was jumped in the confrontation. Shortly after, a man in Booker’s group allegedly gave a gun to another suspect in the same group. That suspect shot the gun three times in the air, causing both groups to flee the area.
According to court documents, the suspect who fired the gun appeared to drop the firearm in a flowerpot on E. Cross St. The gun was retrieved by another member of Booker’s group. Then, the three suspects met in a parking garage on E. West St where footage allegedly shows Booker racking the gun.
The two groups meet again at the intersection of S. Charles Street and E. Hamburg Street. Booker is seen raising his arms similar to a pointing motion. Then the groups run in opposite directions with the victim bleeding from his foot and limping.
On Aug. 1, a detective allegedlt identified Booker as one of the suspects due to a recent arrest. A 911 call also reportedly confirmed there were two groups on the scene and that Booker’s group discharged the firearm.
Judge Tipton saw good reason to postpone the trial. She sent the case to Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa K. Copeland to review before returning the case to reception court.
The trial has been postponed to Aug. 18 with Baltimore City Circuit Judge Kendra Y. Ausby presiding.
