Matthew Connell Archives - Baltimore Witness

Clashing Closings in Attempted Murder Case

By Nicholas Carter , Ethan Russo , Daniel Rogers - June 6, 2025
Uncategorized |

Details Closing arguments wrapped up in Jytarous Evans’ case on June 6, with both sides clashing over whether surveillance footage and circumstantial evidence are enough to prove he shot a man last August, the jury is now deliberating. Read More

Defendant to Serve 10 Years For Firearm Violations

By Laura Flores [former] - April 22, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Victims |

Details Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn sentenced Isaiah Eaddy to 30 years, suspending all but 10, with three years of supervised probation on April 17. Eaddy, 33, was... Read More

Man Accused of BB Gun Robbery Partially Acquitted

By Caroline Sutley [former] , Claire Schreiber [former], Tomas Coles - April 9, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Suspects |

Details A jury panel acquitted Antoine Hill on five of six charges before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro on April 9. Hill, 55, was initially charged with armed... Read More

Brooklyn Day Mass Shooting Defendant Pleads Guilty

By Ziqi Zhou [former] - March 18, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides |

Details A 19-year-old defendant in the 2023 Brooklyn Day mass shooting pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and related charges before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays, accepting a five-to-12... Read More

Defense Criticizes Treatment of Brooklyn Homes Shooter’s Case

Details In a pre-trial conference hearing on Jan. 17, defense attorney Matthew Connell expressed concerns about the court’s treatment of a 19-year-old mass shooting suspect’s case. Tristan B. Jackson is charged... Read More

‘Agitated’ Homicide Defendant Receives Another Competency Eval After Unruly Behavior in Mental Health Court

Details A judge presiding over Baltimore City Circuit Court’s mental health proceedings ordered another competency evaluation for an unruly homicide defendant who refused to speak with his defense counsel and initially... Read More

Man Will Serve 35 Years for Alcohol-Motivated Shooting

Details A 29-year-old was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a May 2023 shooting in Baltimore City Circuit Court Oct. 11. Per the Maryland Judiciary website, Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill... Read More

Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Shooting Another During Argument

Details A 19-year-old Baltimore man will serve the next two decades in prison after he was found guilty of shooting another man during an argument last year. On Oct. 11, Rito... Read More

Perpetrator Sentenced to 40 Years for Wakefield Road Murder

Details A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 40 years for a May 2023 murder in Baltimore City Circuit Court Sept. 20 Kedric A. Green pleaded guilty in July to first-degree murder... Read More

‘This Never Would’ve Happened If I Hadn’t Been That Drunk,’ Says Convicted Attempted Murder Suspect

Details A jury reached a guilty verdict in the trial of a man involved in an alcohol-induced shooting on July 22. Deon Hudson, 29, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted... Read More

Attorneys Debate Whether A Shooting Qualifies As Attempted Murder During Closing Arguments

Details The prosecution and defense used closing arguments to prove whether the defendant’s actions resulted to attempted murder or not on July 19 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P.... Read More

Trial Begins for Man Charged With Attempted Murder in Drunken Dispute

Details Jurors heard opening statements on July 18 for a case in which the defendant admitted to a shooting, but argued he felt threatened and acted impulsively while under the heavy... Read More

Unsuspecting Getaway Driver Pleads Guilty

Details A Baltimore man pleaded guilty July 10 in an attempted murder case. Doral Douglas, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault for an incident that occurred on the... Read More

Counsel Agree on Murder Trial Date

Details On June 28, a 26-year-old homicide defendant received a trial date in reception court in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland. Michael Fisher is charged with... Read More

Jury Acquits Defendant of Attempted Murder But Renders Guilty Verdict on Assault

Details A defendant was acquitted of attempted first- and second-degree murder, but found guilty of first-degree assault and other charges on June 24. Rito Cox III, 19, was convicted of first-degree... Read More

Store Footage Key Evidence in Attempted Murder Trial

Details Jurors were asked to decide whether a 19-year-old Baltimore man was the shooter during a Greenmount Avenue incident. That was after the prosecution presented surveillance footage of the shooting before... Read More

‘He Repeatedly Said It’s Not Him,’ Defense Attorney Tells Jury During Opening Statements

Details On June 20, parties began opening statements debating whether a 19-year-old defendant was the shooter during an incident over a year ago on the 2600 block of Greenmount Avenue before... Read More

41-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder in West Baltimore

Details A 41-year-old Baltimore man accused of an attempted murder in West Baltimore last summer was sentenced to 15 years in prison as part of a plea agreement with the prosecution.... Read More

Second Defendant Pleads Guilty to 2021 Murder of Baltimore Police Officer, Gets Life Sentence for Second Killing

Details Defendant Travon Shaw pleaded guilty for his role in the murder of Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley on March 28, less than an hour after he was sentenced to life... Read More

Late Evidence May Result in Sanctions Against Prosecutor

Details On Feb. 29, homicide defendant Deon Hudson received a motions hearing date from Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland. Hudson, 29, is currently charged with attempted first-degree murder,... Read More

Scheduling Conflicts Continue for Attempted Murder Trial

Details Attempted murder defendant Deon Hudson appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Feb. 26 to reschedule his trial. Hudson, 29, is charged with attempted first-degree murder,... Read More

Debate Over Evidence in Closing Arguments for Attempted Murder Defendant

Details On Feb. 7, the jury heard closing arguments before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill in the attempted murder case against defendant Michael Harris. Harris, 36, faces two... Read More

Defense Worries Witnesses Won’t Testify in Madison Avenue Non-Fatal Shooting Trial

Details After an hour delay due to attorney tardiness, an unresolved pre-trial motion and a dispute over the admissibility of a 911 call, the assistant state’s attorney finally delivered her opening... Read More

Defense Attorney Claims State Report Finding Client Competent ‘Unsatisfactory’

Details On Jan. 10, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin found a 27-year-old homicide defendant competent to stand trial despite his defense attorney’s numerous issues with the competency report. ... Read More