Trial Begins for Defendant Accused of Shooting at Teenage Sisters in Exchange over ‘Dummy’

By Sage Cho - December 10, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Juveniles | Non-Fatal Shooting |

Opening statements were presented in a non-fatal shooting trial focused on the word “dummy” before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yvette M. Bryant on Dec. 10.

Nadeem Tajdin, 48, is charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and two counts each of first- and second-degree assault, firearm usage in a felony or violent crime, and illegal possession of a regulated firearm. He also faces charges for the possession of an unregulated shotgun, illegal possession of ammo, and firing a gun in Baltimore City. All counts are in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 3700 block of Edmonson Avenue.

The incident began on March 6, 2023 at approximately 11:53 p.m. Two teenage sisters exited at a bus stop and entered Tajdin’s corner store to purchase snacks. The younger sister, 16 at the time, wanted Skittles candy. The older sister, 19 at the time, wanted “snacks and some Black and Milds cigars.”

The younger sister approached the clerk, who also happened to be Tajdin’s son, to ask for Skittles. In her request, the younger sister called Tajdin’s son a “dummy.” 

The elder Tajdin, who overheard the exchange, took offense on his son’s behalf and started to scream at the girls. 

“What caught my attention was the yelling,” the older sister testified. She recalled Tajdin repeatedly yelling, “‘I’m not your dummy, b-tch!’”

The prosecutor said the girl meant no offense, comparing the word “dummy” to terms of endearment such as “homie” or “buddy.” Tajdin went too far in his response, she said.

“‘Dummy’ is very Baltimore,” the prosecutor told the jury. She emphasized the younger sister’s friendly nature, a trait that the older sister validated, and said that it was not in the younger girl’s nature to deliberately offend.

The angered Tajdin grabbed a shotgun loaded with BB pellets, pointed it at both girls, and allegedly opened fire. The gunfire shattered the store’s plexiglass, which absorbed most of the force. He then loaded another round and pointed it at the girls, this time telling them to run. 

The sisters returned home that night and to the corner store the next day with the intent to file a police report. Officers arriving at the scene noted that Tajdin had attempted to cover the holes in the plexiglass with a cardboard sign. Detectives ordered a search and seizure warrant and began inspecting the store’s CCTV footage. The footage had not been altered and all video evidence remained intact.

“He even looks up at the camera after he’s done what he’s done,” the prosecutor said. “Not only was this a horrible situation to inflict upon these girls, he wasn’t even allowed to have the gun.”

Defense attorney Rodney Gray said that Tajdin’s decision not to tamper with the video evidence indicated some level of honesty. He was “not trying to hide,” Gray said. He also urged the jury to remember the fact that, despite Tajdin’s firearm charges, BB guns do not qualify as firearms under the law.

The trial is projected to last two days and will continue on Dec. 11.