Trial Begins for Man Charged With Attempted Murder in Drunken Dispute

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Jurors heard opening statements on July 18 for a case in which the defendant admitted to a shooting, but argued he felt threatened and acted impulsively while under the heavy influence of alcohol.

Deon Hudson, 29, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firing a firearm in Baltimore City in connection to an incident that occurred on May 28, 2023, on the 200 block of South Monroe Street.

Defense attorney Matthew Connell told the jury that “this is not a case of whodunit,” but rather a question of motive. In fact, Hudson and the victim were familiar with each other, and after some heavy drinking, the two got into a dispute after discussing a fight that had happened the year before.

The fight allegedly led to the victim’s claiming he could kill Hudson before the defendant pulled a handgun from his backpack and fired multiple shots, hitting the victim in the leg and chest.

The victim then fled out of the back door before jumping over a fence and collapsing in an alley behind the house. Connell asked the jury to find Hudson not guilty of the attempted murder charges and instead guilty of first-degree assault.
Testimony began on July 18 in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill.