Baltimore Witness

25/03/2025

On March 24, 48-year-old Jermaine Jones exercised his right to a speedy trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette Ringgold-Kirksey after the state requested a postponement. Jones is charged with first- and second-degree assault and various firearm-related offenses for a non-fatal shooting incident on Aug. 30, 2024. The case, which was originally scheduled as a jury trial, was delayed due to the prosecution’s involvement in another trial. Defense attorney Louis Guth emphasized Jones’ right to a speedy trial and objected to the request.

https://baltimorewitness.org/defendant-maintains-right-to-a-speedy-trial/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

25/03/2025

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled a June 24 jury trial for 57-year-old attempted murder defendant Cephus D. Lawrence on March 24. The trial is set to last three days before Judge Hope Tipton. Lawrence is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and various related firearm and conspiracy charges in connection to an Oct. 29, 2024, shooting that occurred outside the 2100 block of East North Avenue.

https://baltimorewitness.org/jury-trial-scheduled-for-attempted-murder-defendant/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

25/03/2025

After the prosecution disclosed issues with witnesses, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Martin Schreiber II rescheduled 34-year-old Donnell Johnson’s homicide trial for a fourth time on March. 24. Johnson is charged with first-degree murder and related firearm charges in connection to the Sept. 10, 2020 shooting of 27-year-old Kenneth Bivens on the 1000 block of Beaumont Avenue. The shooting allegedly occurred after a physical altercation. Bivens died two days later from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Johnson’s homicide trial is now scheduled to begin on March 26.

https://baltimorewitness.org/murder-trial-rescheduled-for-fourth-time/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

24/03/2025

Popeye’s Shooter Receives More Lenient Term For Separate Upton Shooting: Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong sentenced Mekhi Green, 20, to five years of incarceration on March 20 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to attempt first-degree murder in connection to a Jan. 30, 2024 incident. The sentence will run concurrent to the 25 years Green received the previous day, for a separate Nov. 21, 2024 incident in which he shot and injured a 23-year-old man inside a Popeye’s restaurant located in the 4400 block of Edmondson Avenue.

https://baltimorewitness.org/popeyes-shooter-receives-more-lenient-term-for-separate-upton-shooting/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

24/03/2025

Sentencing was delayed for a 48-year-old man charged with shooting two teenage victims. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yvette M. Bryant presided over the hearing. Nadeem Tajdin’s case was previously postponed on Jan. 8 after he became ill, apparently suffering from severe medical issues.
Defense attorney Rodney Gray requested the postponement to get the defendant’s medical records. The prosecutor had no objection and informed the court that she received the relevant medical records the morning of the hearing. Judge Bryant said she would consider Tajdin’s situation and postponed the sentencing to May 7.
https://baltimorewitness.org/sentencing-delayed-for-shooting-suspect/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

22/03/2025

Position for Hire: Summer 2025 Intern

Baltimore Witness is a news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md., through hard news reporting. We have opened our application process for our Summer 2025 internship program. Those accepted will hone their writing, research, and data collection skills, all while playing an integral part in providing the community with detailed information on the city’s crime and legal process. Full and part-time internship positions are open to students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism, sociology, public health, data analysis, or the legal fields. This internship provides a per diem stipend that is paid after completion. If acceptable with your school, college credit may be available. Interns are required to work at least two days a week. Reimbursements are available for approved parking/public transportation expenses. During the in-person program, interns may:

● Track court cases for homicide and non-fatal shootings
● Attend daily trials, scheduling/bail/mental health court hearings
● Write briefs and long-form articles on cases, data, and trends
● Research and analyze Baltimore City crime-reduction and legal policies
● Interview the families of defendants and victims
● Interview and speak with court employees
● Other administrative responsibilities.

Baltimore Witness is a nonprofit news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md. The site is the sister site of D.C. Witness, a news site that has been reporting on and tracking homicide cases in Washington, DC for the last seven years.

If interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to LaTrina Antoine, editor-in-chief, at [email protected].

20/03/2025

Fourth Mental Observation Hearing Scheduled for Shooting Defendant: Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin scheduled a fourth mental observation hearing for Marcel Johnson, 22, who attempted to flee a shooting crime scene on a BMX bicycle.

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

20/03/2025

Judge Sentences Popeye’s Shooter to 25 Years, 5 Short of The Minimum: Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong granted attempted second-degree murder defendant Mekhi Green a sentence of 25 years in prison, five years short of the minimum required sentence for his crimes. “Because you selected a jury trial and those 12 jurors found you guilty, I have to give you the higher sentence because the higher court will send it right back,” she informed Green. “I have to sentence you to what the jury found you guilty of.”

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

20/03/2025

Calling Case a ‘Tragedy,’ Judge Imposes Life Sentence: Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams sentenced Alan Geslicki, 33, to life in prison, suspending all but 60 years, with 5 years of supervised probation on March 18, upgrading his original disposition of life, suspending all but 45 years. Geslicki pleaded guilty to the stabbing of six-year-old Seron O’Neal on Feb. 10.

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

18/03/2025

Woodbrook Avenue Shooting Defendant Rejects Plea Offer: Attempted murder defendant Jerome “Jerone” Davis rejected a plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on March 17. Davis is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and related firearm charges in connection to a non-fatal shooting incident on Oct. 30, 2024.

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

18/03/2025

Homicide Defendant Sentenced to 7 Years For Firearm Possession (March 13, 2025): Homicide defendant George Kuhn, 46, was sentenced on March 14 to seven years in prison in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch. Kuhn was charged in connection with the June 12, 2022 shooting of his fiancée, 36-year-old Kristy Helmert. The charges included first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, and firearm possession with felony conviction.



https://baltimorewitness.org/homicide-defendant-sentenced-to-7-years-for-firearm-possession/

18/03/2025

Defendant Acquitted of Murder, Despite Apparent Confession: A jury acquitted George Kuhn, 46, of first-degree murder despite his apparently confessing to the crime on March 13 before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Martin P. Welch. Kuhn was exonerated of killing his fiancée, Kristy Helmert, 36, on June 12, 2022 but the jury found him guilty of illegal possession of a firearm with a prior felony conviction.

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

17/03/2025

Position for Hire: Summer 2025 Intern
Baltimore Witness is a news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md., through hard news reporting. We have opened our application process for our Summer 2025 internship program. Those accepted will hone their writing, research, and data collection skills, all while playing an integral part in providing the community with detailed information on the city’s crime and legal process. Full and part-time internship positions are open to students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism, sociology, public health, data analysis, or the legal fields. This internship provides a per diem stipend that is paid after completion. If acceptable with your
school, college credit may be available. Interns are required to work at least two days a week. Reimbursements are available for approved parking/public transportation expenses. During the in-person program, interns may:

● Track court cases for homicide and non-fatal shootings
● Attend daily trials, scheduling/bail/mental health court hearings
● Write briefs and long-form articles on cases, data, and trends
● Research and analyze Baltimore City crime-reduction and legal policies
● Interview the families of defendants and victims
● Interview and speak with court employees
● Other administrative responsibilities.

Baltimore Witness is a nonprofit news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md. The site is the sister site of D.C. Witness, a news site that has been reporting on and tracking homicide cases in Washington, DC for the last seven years.

If interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to LaTrina Antoine, editor-in-chief, at [email protected].

13/03/2025

Internship Opportunity

Position: Summer 2025 Intern

Baltimore Witness is a news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md., through hard news reporting. We have opened our application process for our Summer 2025 internship program. Those accepted will hone their writing, research, and data collection skills, all while playing an integral part in providing the community with detailed information on the city’s crime and legal process. Full and part-time internship positions are open to students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism, sociology, public health, data analysis, or the legal fields. This internship provides a per diem stipend that is paid after completion. If acceptable with your school, college credit may be available. Interns are required to work at least two days a week. Reimbursements are available for approved parking/public transportation expenses.

During the in-person program, interns may:
● Track court cases for homicide and non-fatal shootings

● Attend daily trials, scheduling/bail/mental health court hearings

● Write briefs and long-form articles on cases, data, and trends

● Research and analyze Baltimore City crime-reduction and legal policies

● Interview the families of defendants and victims

● Interview and speak with court employees

● Other administrative responsibilities.

Baltimore Witness is a nonprofit news site that provides transparency of homicide and non-fatal shooting cases in Baltimore, Md. The site is the sister site of D.C. Witness, a news site that has been reporting on and tracking homicide cases in Washington, DC for the last seven years.

If interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to LaTrina Antoine, editor-in-chief, at [email protected].

10/03/2025

INTERNS WANTED!!

07/03/2025

Serial Podcast Murder Defendant Released on Probation

In a complex case that played out nationally on the Serial podcast, 17-year-old Hae Min Lee's co**se was discovered partially buried in West Baltimore’s Leakin Park.

On March 6, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer released Adnan Syed, who was found guilty on all counts of the 1999 fatal strangling of Lee, who was his ex-girlfriend at the time.

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.

27/02/2025

Defendant Cites Responsibilities ‘As a Father’ in Probation Request: During a disposition hearing on Feb. 26, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill granted 39-year-old Kenneth Ellis probation in connection to a Nov. 17. 2023 non-fatal shooting involving two tow truck employees. Cole said that one month before Ellis’ disposition hearing, his 15-year-old son had suffered an injury, which led to a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation and caused the teenager’s mother to lose custody. “Me as a father, I have to do what I have to do,” he said. Ellis said he plans to file a motion for custody of his son, as well as for his 9-year-old son who remains in the mother’s custody. Judge Fletcher-Hill recommended three years of supervised probation, as Ellis has already fulfilled the condition of completing anger management classes.Ellis was ordered to report to BPD to sign under the Gun Offenders Registry. His probation officially began following the conclusion of the disposition hearing.

https://baltimorewitness.org/defendant-cites-responsibilities-as-a-father-in-probation-request/

Delivering Transparency: We collect information about homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore and keep data on what happens during the entire process of each case.