Opening arguments were heard May 5 in the trial of Diamante Teal, 29, a Baltimore man accused in a 2019 triple shooting that left one dead and two injured.
Teal, who is represented by defense attorney Jason Rodriguez, is charged alongside co-defendants Philip Morton, 27, and William Andre Stewart III, 26. Proceedings were held before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton.
Teal is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, carjacking, conspiracy, armed robbery and multiple firearm violations.
He and his co-defendants are accused of robbing the Baltimore’s Best Wings restaurant on June 17, 2019. The restaurant, which is now closed, had been located near Morgan State University. On July 11, 2019, the trio allegedly committed a shooting at a Subway restaurant in Northeast Baltimore, fatally wounding 16-year-old Travis Chance in the torso and injuring a married couple. Twenty-four shell casings were found inside the Subway, which is still in business on the 5600 block of The Alameda.
During opening statements, the state’s attorney told jurors Chance initially entered the Subway for cover when Teal, who was “already charged with robbery and assault [and] possessed a gold assault rifle,” aimed at Chance and “sprayed in public space.”
The two surviving victims remained “frozen” in the store while one of the defendants reportedly pointed a gun to their head. Chance was shot three times, according to the state’s attorney, ending “his incredibly short life.”
“This defendant, Teal, is guilty,” said the state’s attorney. “What happened in the case is simply easy.”
In response, Rodriguez stressed that his client “had absolutely nothing to do with it” and was “completely not guilty.” He challenged the state’s case, claiming it “falls far short” of their burden of proof.
Meanwhile, a woman who was present at the Subway shooting with her daughter testified she heard “rapid popping.” She recalled yelling her daughter’s name to “get down” before hitting the floor herself.
“I thought we were gonna die that day, grazed by a bullet in my left leg,” she said on the stand.
Evidence recovered from the Subway included likely blood and several shell casings from handgun-compatible bullets. According to a crime scene technician, forensic testing revealed the bullets were not compatible with assault rifles.
Photographs were shown to jurors of one of the victim’s right ear, which had sustained a gunshot wound.
The trial is set to continue with witness testimonies on May 5.
