‘The Shape Is Consistent With a Handgun, Not a Fiji Bottle,’ Prosecutor Tells Jury During Closing Arguments

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Jurors will determine if a 36-year-old Baltimore man was responsible for shooting himself.

Jeffery Nelson-Johnson is charged with possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, possession of a firearm in a controlled dangerous substance offense, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, firing and discharging a gun and illegal possession of ammunition for the incident that occurred on Nov. 15, 2023, on the 2200 block of Fulton Avenue.

Nelson-Johnson suffered an injury to his left butt cheek and his groin from the gunshot. Medical records from the doctor found metal bullet fragments inside the defendant.

According to court documents, police responded to a ShotSpotter report near the now closed Westside Elementary School located in the Penn-North neighborhood.

Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detectives collected Nelson-Johnson’s clothes as evidence. Detectives and the prosecution stated that the defendant was wearing six layers, including briefs, undergarments and sweatpants. The clothing had a hole consistent with the gunshot, which injured Nelson-Johnson’s left buttock.

During the trial on June 27, the prosecutor questioned why other parts of the defendant’s clothing weren’t damaged.

“You can see that the hole in the sweater is burnt. I can fit my whole finger through it,” Nelson-Johnson said.

The prosecution also presented surveillance footage, zooming in on Johnson’s left leg, indicating that there was an L-shaped object in his pocket.

“It’s an L-shaped indent, which is consistent with the shape of the firearm and the area the gun is positioned. We don’t need X-ray vision to see this,” the prosecution stated. “The shape is consistent with a handgun, not a Fiji bottle.”

Defense attorney Brandon Thornton had stated that Nelson-Johnson was carrying four phones at the time of the shooting, a soda can and a Fiji water bottle in his pockets.

“I’m the type of guy that carries a lot of stuff, but I did not carry a gun. I did not shoot myself. I just saw a shadowy figure,” Nelson-Johnson said.

The defense told the jury that Nelson-Johnson did not cause his own injury, but rather he was shot by someone else on Nov. 15.

Thornton then told the jury that detectives did not find any shell casings, bullet fragments or even a handgun on or near Nelson-Johnson.

“If he was wearing six layers of clothing, why are there no shell casings? The state’s theory is based on video footage where Nelson-Johnson is seen to be having a gun,” Thornton said during closing arguments.

Despite, no gun or shell casings being recovered at the crime scene, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Levi S. Zaslow said there was still “sufficient evidence with the L-shaped object being a firearm on the defendant.”

Before closing arguments began, the prosecution informed the jury that the defendant was convicted of forging prescriptions and possession and distribution of narcotics, along with being prohibited from carrying a firearm.

The jury will continue deliberating on June 28.