On a summer evening in Baltimore, 36-year-old Damon Bailey was shot and killed on June 10, 2020. The incident, which occurred around 6:45 p.m. on the 1800 block of W. North Avenue, also resulted in a 48-year-old woman being shot. The male victim in this case was later identified as Damon Bailey.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of three men: Justin Westbrook, Theodore Richards, and Antuan Dubose.
Prosecutors alleged that the motive for the killing stemmed from Bailey disrespecting the Rolling 60s Crips gang. According to testimony from a witness, the group was celebrating a gang holiday when Bailey made a disrespectful comment about Theodore Richards. It was alleged that Westbrook then called Richards and Dubose to the scene. One witness testified that after their arrival, Richards told Westbrook, 'You do you,' before Westbrook allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Bailey multiple times.
Justin Westbrook, who was 26 years old at the time, was the first to stand trial. During his trial, prosecutors argued that an 'exchange of words' and disrespect led to the fatal shooting. However, Westbrook's defense attorney pointed the finger at two brothers who were witnesses for the prosecution, suggesting one of them was the actual killer. The defense also highlighted that surveillance footage of the incident was obscured at the moment of the shooting. In February 2023, a jury found Justin Westbrook not guilty of first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and two handgun charges.
Theodore Richards, 37, and Antuan Dubose, 33, were tried later. Prosecutors claimed that Dubose had ordered Westbrook to 'handle that,' which they interpreted as an order for an execution. The prosecution presented call logs and cell phone location data to connect Richards and Dubose to the scene. Despite this, the defense attorneys for both men questioned the credibility of the two key witnesses, arguing that they may have framed the defendants. They emphasized the lack of physical evidence and the fact that the shooting itself was not captured on camera. In August 2023, both Theodore Richards and Antuan Dubose were found not guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and second-degree murder.
