Youth Defendant Accused of Shooting Man During Armed Robbery Denied Bail

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A juvenile defendant accused of robbing a couple at gunpoint in their apartment was denied bail on Jan. 27 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Phillip Jackson

The Baltimore resident is facing non-fatal shooting charges for an incident on Aug. 5, 2021. Officers were called to the 400 block of Laurens street at approximately 3:30 a.m. for reports of shots being fired. They found the victim suffering from a gunshot to his lower back and arms. 

Specific charges were not discussed during Thursday’s hearing.

During the bail review, Judge Jackson listened as the defendant’s defense attorney, Lauren Dollar, argued that the defendant was misidentified in a photo array.  She also said the defendant has been compliant with home monitoring in the past and requested the defendant to be released on home detention. 

Dollar also noted that initially the defendant did not match the victim’s description of a 300-pound man standing at about 6’2″. 

In addition, Dollar also informed the court of the defendant’s current health issues including heart and kidney problems as well as severe asthma, putting the defendant at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 while incarcerated. 

The prosecutor argued that there was surveillance footage as well as witnesses who revealed that the victim was in his home asleep with his girlfriend when the four individuals arrived in a Honda Pilot. The prosecutor also said the victims knew the defendant and identified him in a photo array. 

The prosecutor also added that one of the individuals scaled the home before allowing the others to enter. The defendant was armed with a .22 caliber and demanded the couple open their safe, then shoot the man and threatened his girlfriend.

After listening to counsel, the judge denied bail deeming the defendant a threat to public safety. 

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