‘That Shows Deliberation, That Shows Premeditation,’ Says Prosecutor in Mannasota Avenue Murder

By Hannah Rainer [former] - October 27, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“There is no other person who could have killed Trevon Williams on July 31, 2022.”

The morning of Oct. 27 saw closing arguments in the trial of a man accused in a murder on Mannasota Avenue. The case was heard by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton.

Darries Lamar Sommerville, 29, was charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction and carrying a handgun on his person in connection to the murder of 29-year-old Trevon Williams in July 2022.

After presenting of one final piece of video evidence, the prosecution made their closing argument. relying on the video footage from the area surrounding the crime scene on that day to implicate Sommerville. Using the footage as a guide, they created a timeline to illustrate that only Sommerville and Williams were in the area on the day that he was killed. 

“That shows deliberation, that shows premeditation,” said the prosecution.

Defense attorney Natalie A. Finegar questioned the reliability of the evidence, as the incident occurred out of the camera’s view. Moreover, she focused on the apparent lack of motive for the crime. 

“As I said in the beginning of this case, the video evidence doesn’t show what the prosecution thinks it does,” stated Finegar.

According to District Court of Maryland documents, on July 31, 2022, Baltimore City Police (BPD) responded to a call for a shooting that had occurred in the 3500 block of Mannasota Avenue. Upon their arrival, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his head. He was later transported to the hospital, where he died the next day.

Police investigated surveillance footage from the scene and identified Sommerville as the man who was last seen walking with Williams. The footage revealed Sommerville pulling an object out of his jacket and then fleeing the scene apparently after Williams was shot. After being positively identified by witnesses at the scene, Sommerville was arrested and charged in connection to Williams’ death.