Baltimore, Maryland’s newly elected chief prosecutor has dismissed all charges against a black man who was tried four times for a 2015 murder despite his repeated claims that he was innocent and that he had been set up by police.
Keith Davis Jr. walked free Friday after Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced his decision.
in a Press releaseBates said he has asked Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Donnelly to review the case involving the murder of Kevin Jones, a security guard who was fatally shot June 7, 2015, at the Pimlico race track. Police charged Davis with committing the crime and claimed his gun matched casings found at the crime scene.
Bates said Donnelly reviewed all of the «pertinent information, looked at the law, and concluded that we should not continue this process.»
He went on to say that the dismissal of the charges against Davis was «the result of a thorough review of his prosecution thus far, as well as careful consideration of what it means to seek justice in the city of Baltimore.»
Davis was initially charged in 2015 for an alleged robbery. Hours after Jones was shot, an unlicensed taxi driver flagged down police and said someone had tried to rob him at gunpoint. Police identified Davis as the suspect and pursued him to a mechanic’s garage.
Davis’s supporters said he was «cornered by police in a West Baltimore garage» and shot 44 times, according to the free website keith davis jr. He was hit three times and survived, the site said.
Police said Davis had planted a gun on top of a refrigerator in the garage. Davis denied this and accused the officers of planting the gun after he was shot.
Davis went on trial in 2016 for armed robbery and was found not guilty on all charges except illegal possession of a firearm.
About a week later, prosecutors charged Davis with Jones’ murder, citing ballistics evidence. The website denied Davis’ involvement in the murder, saying the gun police claimed he used «was never fired.»
The first murder trial in 2017 ended with a split jury, according to the website. The second trial, also in 2017, returned a guilty verdict that was later overturned by a judge after the judge learned that prosecutors presented their key witness, «a professional jailhouse informant,» without informing the court of the charges. background of the witness, the website indicated.
Davis’ third murder trial in 2018 also ended with a split jury, and his fourth in 2020 ended with a guilty verdict that was again overturned «due to the judge’s refusal to allow the proper and required pretrial cross-examination requested.» for the defense.» according to the website.
In his press release, Bates accused former state attorney Marilyn Mosby, who repeatedly took Davis’ case to trial, of «prosecutorial missteps» in «her pursuit of a conviction at all costs.»
“I fully recognize the pain and anguish that the repeated failed trials have caused the family of the victim, and I truly stand in solidarity with them. However, as the State’s Attorney, I have a duty to ensure justice for everyone, not only for the victim but also for the accused. » he said.
Mosby was defeated in the Democratic primary last year while facing federal perjury charges. He did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment, but told The Associated Press that the case «has always been about seeking justice for Kevin Jones and his family.»
Mosby declined to comment further.
Jones’s grandmother, Earlene Neals, told The Associated Press that she was heartbroken and shocked by Bates’s decision.
«Our family is destroyed,» he said. «Kevin is not getting justice at all, none.»
The Maryland Public Defender’s Office, which represented Davis, said it was «extremely grateful» that Davis was released.
«After four trials for a crime he did not commit, all the guilty verdicts were overturned by mistake by the police, the prosecutor and even the court.» saying Deborah Katz Levi, the office’s director of special litigation and an attorney for Davis.
«We are grateful that the State’s Attorney’s Office understood that this case was fraught with so many past errors and evidentiary problems, amounting to a denial of Mr. Davis’ right to due process and a loss of confidence in the justice system. criminal justice».
The office said Davis has asked for privacy «while he privately enjoys his long-awaited reunion with his wife and children.»
The Baltimore Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.
