A Baltimore man accused of a 2021 shooting behind a Royal Farms gas station after robbing another Royal Farms a couple of hours earlier is set for trial next month for attempted murder and weapons charges in connection to the shooting.
Eric Simmons, 34, was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 40 years, for attempted first-degree murder on Oct. 5 during reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland. The defendant is also charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, having a loaded handgun on his person and in a vehicle, discharging a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition and a regulated firearm.
Defense attorney Jonathan Klein — standing in for Simmons’ counsel, Isaac Klein — rejected the offer, informing the court he was unsure how much evidence in discovery defense counsel has reviewed with his client at this time. The prosecutor noted that all discovery has been shared with the defense.
After reviewing their schedules, counsel and Judge Copeland agreed to set Simmons’ three-day trial to begin Dec. 8, and a judge will be assigned to the case at a later date.
The shooting occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2021, when Baltimore Police were called to the Royal Farms at 1202 S. Caton Avenue. A man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen was found at the scene and taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma for treatment.
According to court documents, the victim was standing behind the store when Simmons approached and shot him before walking away. The shooter was connected to a white BMW seen in the gas station’s video surveillance footage.
During their investigation, police also spoke to a witness who said she was sitting on her front porch and saw a white-colored sedan parked in her yard before hearing gunshots coming from the direction of the gas station.
Police were unable to get the white vehicle’s license plate number from the S. Caton Avenue gas station’s video surveillance. However, charging documents state that a detective identified Simmons as the suspect and matched the description of the vehicle seen at the shooting to footage from the armed robbery at the Royal Farms at 3635 Keswick Road, which occurred about two hours before the shooting.
Court documents state Simmons is also charged in connection to the armed robbery incident.
