Two 17-Year-Olds Accused of 2021 Fatal Shooting Begin Trial

By Andrew Michaels - December 9, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

Video surveillance footage of a 2021 homicide is the most predominant piece of evidence behind the prosecution’s case, an assistant state’s attorney told a 12-person jury on Dec. 8. It will be this footage that will identify William Holloman and Darell Parker as the suspects behind the fatal shooting.

The prosecutor described the fatal shooting as a “senseless crime of violence” that was committed by the two 17-year-old teens near the intersection of N. Greene and W. Mulberry streets on July 1, 2021.

Both defendants are charged with two counts of first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime. Parker is also charged with possessing a firearm as a minor.

During her opening statements before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Schiffer, the prosecutor said the shooting occurred near an Exxon gas station and an abandoned building where the victim lived. The victim was shot once, the bullet entering his back and exiting through his neck.

Video footage would show three people following the victim, who Baltimore Police later found bleeding on a curb, she explained.

Catherine Flynn, Parker’s defense attorney, told the jury that her client has been waiting more than a year to tell them he did not commit this crime. Furthermore, there would be no physical or forensic evidence linking Parker to the murder except the prosecution’s “one cloudy, blurry video.”

Defense attorney Robert Linthicum, who represents Holland alongside defense attorney Jennifer Davis, reiterated Flynn’s statements, questioning the reliability of the prosecution’s evidence, or lack thereof.

Witness testimony proceeded into Thursday afternoon.

The defendant’s trial was off to a late start earlier that morning after the prosecution informed the court that one of her necessary witnesses could not testify due to an illness.

A conversation of a postponement arose between counsel and the judge before opening statements, following jury selection that finished the day before. The prosecution informed Judge Schiffer that a witness crucial to authenticating video footage had confirmed last night that he would testify on Thursday, only to let the prosecution know he had come down with a fever, chills, and aches the next morning.

The witness is a Royal Farms employee who has worked directly with Baltimore Police officers when the latter is seeking video footage pertaining to investigations.

After a brief stint in reception court, the case returned to Judge Schiffer, where counsel questioned the sick witness over Zoom to determine how to proceed. Despite objections from the defense, Judge Schiffer ruled to proceed with the trial, allowing the ill witness to testify in front of the jury via Zoom.