In the early morning hours of a Baltimore summer day, the life of 22-year-old Terrico McCain was tragically cut short. On June 7, 2020, at approximately 2:32 a.m., police responded to a report of a male lying unresponsive in the 3700 block of Boarman Avenue. Upon their arrival, they discovered McCain with a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite the immediate response from medics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation into the death of Terrico McCain, a male
resident of Baltimore, began with few leads. Homicide detectives canvassed the area but found no immediate witnesses or suspects. However, the subsequent investigation uncovered a narrative of a personal dispute that escalated to fatal violence. It was revealed that prior to the shooting, an argument had occurred between McCain and his ex-girlfriend. The situation intensified when the ex-girlfriend's new partner, Charles Christopher Mickens, became involved.
According to the defense attorney for Mickens, the altercation began with McCain physically assaulting Mickens after he left a store. The conflict then reportedly escalated to McCain choking his ex-girlfriend. In what was described as an act of self-defense for his girlfriend, Mickens, then 21 years old, drew a handgun and shot McCain in the back as he was running away. After being shot, McCain collapsed on Boarman Avenue where he was later found by police. Investigators found a key fob in McCain's pocket which led them to his Nissan Altima, still running on Ayrdale Avenue.
Charles Christopher Mickens was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime. The case against him, however, would not proceed to a conviction. On May 23, 2022, nearly two years after McCain's death, all charges against Mickens were dismissed. The prosecution's case hinged on the testimony of a key witness, Mickens' girlfriend at the time of the incident. When the prosecution was unable to locate her to testify, the court denied a request for postponement and the case was ultimately dismissed.
