Victim Pleads The Fifth, Shooting Suspect Acquitted

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. Doory acquitted attempted murder defendant Patrice Lankford, 36, of all charges on April 1 after the victim in the case invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to testify. Judge Doory dropped Lankford’s charges due to a lack of evidence , expunging her charges and concluding the trial.

Lankford was initially charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, carrying a loaded handgun on her person, and related conspiracy charges in connection to an October 2023 shooting incident.

On Oct. 28, 2023, at approximately 12:31 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of N. East Avenue for a report of a man who was shot. Upon arrival, they located a victim suffering a gunshot wound to the right side of his body.

Surveillance camera footage shows the victim engaging in a verbal altercation with a person said to be Lankford, who allegedly responded she would “get someone to pistol whip and knock his head off.”

The footage then shows an unidentified male walking up and pushing the victim back while holding a small caliber handgun. Lankford is then shown getting involved in the conflict by allegedly telling the unidentified male, “Don’t do that to me, nephew.”

Lankford then attempted to leave the conflict, but the unidentified male suspect approached the victim and fired multiple shots, wounding him. Both the male suspect and Lankford were allegedly shown on surveillance cameras taking off in opposite directions. Lankford was captured fleeing down an alley toward N. Bouldin Street.

“She said she was going to get me killed,” the victim told officers during an interview following the incident. “I thought the drink was talking, but she really tried to get me killed.”

The victim chose not to speak on the matter and acknowledged that his refusal to testify could lead to dropped charges for Lankford. He did not confirm to the court whether he was present at the scene.

“I am enacting my Fifth Amendment Right, and I’m not saying or testifying to anything,” he addressed the court.