A Dundalk man accused of fatally shooting 30-year-old Bianca Nelson and wounding her boyfriend continued in jury trial Wednesday with testimony from a witness who said he heard multiple gunshots from a nearby home.
Dakwane Cole, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault and several firearm-related offenses in connection with the Nov. 6, 2024, shooting on the 2300 block of E. Lafayette Street.
Cole is represented by defense attorney Natalie Finegar before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan C. Lazerow.
On Aug. 19, a witness who was working on a house in the neighborhood at the time of the shooting testified that he heard and saw gunfire from a nearby location. He stated that he initially heard approximately four gunshots before going inside, and then heard about six additional shots, three of which struck his white van.
Video evidence labeled Exhibit 28B was shown, depicting the area where the witness was working during the incident. Photographs labeled Exhibits 39A and 39B were also introduced, showing a signed document from different angles.
According to charging documents, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Nov. 6, 2024, and found Nelson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near a 2010 Ford Fusion. She was later pronounced dead, and an autopsy ruled the death a homicide.
Nelson’s boyfriend, a 32-year-old man, was found nearby with a graze wound to the left side of his chest.
Court documents state that the man was seated in the driver’s seat of the Ford Fusion waiting for Nelson when a suspect approached. After an exchange of words, Nelson exited her home and walked toward the vehicle. As she moved behind the car toward the passenger side, the suspect allegedly produced a handgun and fired, striking both individuals. The suspect and several other men fled the area on foot following the shooting.
Investigators later recovered three plastic bottles from the 1800 block of N. Montford Avenue, where the suspect and others had reportedly gathered before the shooting. A latent fingerprint recovered from one of the bottles was consistent with a fingerprint belonging to Cole.
The surviving victim later identified Cole as the shooter during a photo array.
Cole was developed as a person of interest on Nov. 11, 2024. He is also prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions, including a 2016 robbery conviction.
The trial is expected to continue with and losing arguments are not expected until next month.
