BALTIMORE — Closing arguments concluded Monday in the trial of Devontaye Richardson, a 29-year-old man charged in the shooting death of a Pasadena teenager and attempted murder of another man last year in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood.
Richardson is facing multiple serious charges, including first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and various assault and weapons offenses. The case centers on the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Cameran Holt and the attempted killing of 28-year-old James Scott.
On October 27, 2024, Holt was parked in her car while celebrating Halloween in Federal Hill when she was caught in gunfire on West Hamburg Street. She sustained a gunshot wound to the back and succumbed to her injuries 11 days later. Meanwhile, Scott was also shot during the altercation and received treatment at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
In addition to Richardson, two other individuals — 21-year-old Alexis Cancel-Soto and 28-year-old Daeshaun Clark — were implicated in the shooting. Cancel-Soto was found guilty on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, and faces sentencing on December 3. Clark’s pre-trial conference is set for Friday.
During the closing arguments, Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Justin Greer detailed the evidence collected from the crime scene, including four sets of shell casings that will play a critical role in the jury’s decision. Greer attributed the majority of gunfire to Richardson along with his alleged accomplices, asserting that an altercation between Richardson and Scott triggered the violent exchange.
Greer further emphasized the implications of doorbell camera footage showing Richardson fleeing the scene in a suspicious manner. He questioned why Richardson would place his hand near his waistband if not to secure a weapon, describing the shooting as “tragic” and decrying it as an unjustified act of violence against an innocent victim.
Conversely, defense attorney Daniel Mooney contended that his client was unfairly implicated for actions that belonged to another person. Mooney argued that Richardson was not the one directly engaged in the argument with Scott, and he suggested that a third, unidentified individual was responsible for the gunfire. He claimed that surveillance footage depicted Richardson handing off his weapon before the shooting took place, arguing that his client could not have been involved if he no longer possessed the gun.
Mooney concluded by asserting that the other figure, who allegedly discharged the weapon, has yet to be charged and remains under investigation.
The jury has not yet reached a verdict and will resume deliberations on Tuesday as they weigh the evidence in this high-profile case that has drawn community attention and sparked discussions about gun violence.