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By
Andrew Michaels
, Racquel Bazos [former] - January 4, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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The alleged getaway driver charged with the murders of Leion Davis Jr. and William Ferebee in 2022 will get a new trial date later this month, following a postponement request on Jan. 4.
Datuan Blanchard, 24, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime in connection to the double homicide on Aug. 12, 2022. He was initially scheduled to begin a jury trial on Thursday morning before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard, but was sent to reception court for a postponement.
The prosecutor and defense attorney Judit Otvos informed Judge Dana M. Middleton that the State’s Attorney’s Office recently provided additional evidence to the defense, which Otvos needed time to review. Defense counsel was also out sick.
Counsel is expected to return to reception court on Jan. 19 to schedule a new trial date.
Blanchard is accused of stealing a red Acura TL belonging to the mother of his children, which he allegedly used to drive the shooters to the 4000 block of Wabash Avenue to kill the 23-year-old victims, according to court documents. The shooting occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m.
A few hours later, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers found the vehicle on fire on the 1200 block of Franklintown Road. Video surveillance footage captured the vehicle driving throughout the city before the shooting and a review of Blanchard’s cell phone location placed him in the area of the crime at the time it occurred.
Court documents state that a witness also told police Blanchard confessed to driving the shooters to and from the scene.