The murder trial of Andrew Curry opened on Nov. 13 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles J. Peters.
Curry, 24, is accused of being one of three men who shot and killed 27-year-old Desmond Gardner as he walked down the 3400 block of Spelman Road to visit his young daughter during his lunch break.
According to prosecutors, co-defendant Parris Harris, 20, texted Curry earlier that morning, writing, “On my way to you.”
Curry, Harris, and a third accomplice then got into Harris’ car and allegedly drove to the location. When they arrived, Curry allegedly spotted Gardner, identified him as his “target,” jogged up behind him, pulled out a gun, and fired into his back. The two other gunmen are accused of joining in moments later–all this according to the prosecution.
Surveillance footage from a nearby snack van, shown to jurors, captured part of the shooting. Three men in the video are seen wearing face coverings. Prosecutors said Curry was hit in the back of his leg during the gunfire, causing him to stumble, while the others continued shooting until Gardner was on the ground.
The prosecution also told jurors that cell tower records later showed Curry’s and Harris’ phones close together before and after the shooting, with no activity during the period when the attack occurred. Curry’s phone was later traced to a Washington, D.C., hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg on the day of the incident.
Defense attorney Natalie Finegar urged jurors to separate Curry from Harris, accusing the prosecution of attempting to prove “guilt by association.” She emphasized that investigators recovered no firearm, clothing, or physical evidence directly tied to Curry and that cell tower data only shows general proximity, not the precise location of a person.
An FBI agent later echoed this sentiment, testifying that although cellphones constantly seek tower connections, the resulting location data is not entirely accurate. A phone can connect to multiple towers and will simply choose the strongest signal. This means that tower records can place a device in the vicinity of an area, but cannot always pinpoint its exact position.
A medical examiner told the jury that Gardner suffered 12 gunshot wounds and 12 fragment wounds, including injuries to his buttocks, neck, upper back, shoulder, right thigh, and multiple wounds to his head and face.
Curry, who has denied involvement, is charged with first- and second-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, and handgun possession. Harris was convicted in July 2024 and sentenced to life in prison for his role in the same killing.
The trial is set to continue this week with additional witness testimony.
