Trial Begins for Baltimore Man Accused of Drive-by Murder

By Mackenzie Wright [former] - March 30, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The trial began for a Baltimore man accused of first-degree murder on March 30 before Baltimore City Circuit Court with Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer presiding. 

Terrell Carter, 38, is charged with multiple counts of first and second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, and numerous weapons charges in relation to the shooting of Antoine Crowder that occurred Oct. 10, 2020, on the 4200 block of Erdman Avenue. 

Carter is accused of firing at least three shots out of a car into a crowded area outside of a local bar, striking the victim through the door of his car. 

During opening statements, defense attorney Chris Purpura said his client should be found not guilty due to the state’s lack of evidence, saying they would not be able to meet their burden of proof during the trial. During the prosecutor’s opening statements, she informed the jury of the trial process and said that she expected to call several witnesses who would testify against the defendant but did not elaborate on the facts of the case or the incident itself. 

The owner of the bar where the shooting occurred testified on March 30. He said he knew the defendant since he was an occasional patron of the bar. However, he said that Carter had never caused any trouble at the establishment nor was he the man who stole a girl’s phone earlier in the night. 

The stolen phone was alleged to be the reason for the altercation that resulted in the shooting. 

A firearms examiner with the Baltimore Police Department also testified as an expert witness, saying the ballistics testing was inconclusive. He was unable to determine with reasonable certainty whether the three shell casings recovered from the scene came from the same gun or different guns. While the casings had similarities, he said they did not have the sufficient markings required for making an identification. 

The witness later said that if the gun had been recovered, he could have fired test shots and potentially reached a conclusion with a larger sample size. 

After moving through eight witnesses fairly quickly, the trial adjourned for the day, with plans to call Carter’s co-defendant to testify March 31.