Survivor of Fatal Shootout Tells Inconsistent Story, Defense Counsel Argues

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An unscathed victim’s inconsistent story of the fatal shootout that killed 28-year-old Donte Lee raised more questions than answers for defense counsel at the start of homicide defendant Daquan Hawks’ jury trial on Aug. 14.

Hawks is currently facing murder, attempted murder and additional weapons charges for Lee’s murder on Jan. 24, 2022, on the 2200 block of Ruskin Avenue. His trial is expected to last four days before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays.

During opening statements on Wednesday, Hawk’s attorney, Staci Pipkin, told jurors the surviving victim is “the only person who can talk about what happened,” but that he “can’t get it right.” The victim’s story changed multiple times during different interviews over the course of the investigation, she said.

Pipkin also noted that the prosecution does not have video footage of the shooting, but instead, grainy video footage of Hawks getting into a car a block away from where the shooting occurred after he was shot once in the back. Counsel agreed that the driver of the vehicle—identified as 32-year-old Leonard Joyner—took Hawks to the hospital.

Joyner was acquitted of charges similar to Hawks earlier this year.

According to the prosecution, Hawks’ likely DNA was later found on a handgun recovered by the Baltimore Police Department near the crime scene. Eight of the 25 shell casings that were also recovered were consistent with the handgun, she said.

The prosecutor explained that Lee and the surviving victim had parked outside their residence around 10:15 p.m. when two men dressed in black and wearing masks approached them and opened fire. As Lee returned fire, Hawks ran to Ruskin and Parkwood avenues where he was picked up by Joyner. The second unidentified suspect was last seen running west, charging documents state.

Police found Lee unresponsive at the scene after he was shot five times. The prosecution said three bullets recovered from his body.

Following opening statements, Hawks’ trial continued with testimony from one of the responding police officers, with more testimony expected to continue into the afternoon.