Opening statements were heard April 14 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton in the trial of 47-year-old Dominic White, who stands accused of threatening to kill two neighbors and discharging a handgun multiple times during a dispute last summer.
White, known to community members by the nickname “Black,” faces a multi-count indictment that includes charges of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and several firearm violations.
The state’s case centers on an Aug. 14, 2025, incident that occurred outside a residence on the 1500 block of Carswell Street. According to prosecutors, the altercation began when a woman acquainted with one of the victims confronted a group of men, including White, regarding purchasing tobacco papers.
After claiming he no longer wanted to speak to the woman, White allegedly followed her to the residence. The two victims were inside at the time but reportedly overheard White shouting threats at the woman outside.
The prosecution told jurors that White left the area and returned with a gun. When he returned, he ordered the victims to remain indoors, banging on their front door and threatening to “shoot and kill” them both if they stepped outside.
Moments later, the victims allegedly saw White standing near a black minivan across the street, where he pointed a handgun into the air and fired four rounds.
“The defendant assaulted two people with a gun he was not even supposed to have,” the prosecutor stated during her opening argument, noting that White is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior conviction. She highlighted physical evidence recovered from the scene, including four 9mm shell casings and a live round, as well as video footage that investigators claim places White at the location.
During her presentation, the state’s attorney urged jurors to use “common sense and life experiences” to weigh the evidence against White and to convict him for his involvement in the shooting.
Defense attorney Brandon Thornton countered with a brief opening statement, maintaining White’s innocence. Thornton argued that the state’s case rests on unreliable accounts, informing the jury that prosecutors only intend to call two eyewitnesses and emphasizing that the state’s evidence would fail to meet the standard of reasonable doubt required for a conviction.
The trial is set to conclude this week.
