Suspect Fired Gun in Air to Scare Away Kids Who Were Damaging His Car, Defense Says

By Andrew Michaels - April 6, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Counsel for defendant Jeremiah Dairo claimed his client was “acting within the law” when he fired a gun in the air to scare away kids who were accused of damaging his truck last year.

Currently facing assault and weapons charges, Dairo’s jury trial began on April 2 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby in regards to the incident on Aug. 12, 2023.

During opening statements, defense attorney Augustine Okeke said the 24-year-old licensed gun owner was inside his girlfriend’s home on the 500 block of Radnor Avenue where they heard a banging noise and an alarm go off. When Dairo’s girlfriend saw kids banging on the defendant’s truck, she yelled at them to stop.

Moments later, Okeke said, Dairo came outside with a handgun and fired it once in the air. The kids then ran away and the defendant put his gun away before seeing scratches on his truck.

“He did what he was told to do when he went to all of the gun training classes,” Okeke said, noting that Dairo had a wear and carry permit.

Earlier in the proceeding, the prosecutor argued that the victims were not touching or damaging Dairo’s truck, but just standing beside it. One shell casing was also recovered from the scene, he said.

Dairo’s trial is expected to continue on April 3.