On a bright Saturday afternoon, September 24, 2016, a burst of gunfire shattered the daytime calm at the intersection of South Carey and Baltimore Streets. Twenty-five-year-old Levon Stokes, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, was seated in his car when a man approached and fired multiple shots, ending his life. The assailant fled the scene, disappearing into the network of nearby alleyways.
The investigation into the brazen daylight shooting led Baltimore police to 28-year-old Devon
Little of West Baltimore. He was subsequently arrested and faced a host of charges, including first-degree murder and firearm offenses. During the trial, the prosecution's case leaned heavily on the testimony of Stokes' own relatives who were nearby at the time of the shooting. Two family members positively identified Little as the man who walked up to the car and opened fire.
Despite what prosecutors felt was a strong eyewitness account, Little maintained his innocence, asserting that he was being framed by the victim's family. He and his defense team pointed to what they described as inconsistencies in the witness testimonies and a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the crime. Nevertheless, a jury found Devon Little guilty of the murder of Levon Stokes, and he was sentenced to life in prison. In a later turn of events, an appeal led to the reversal of Little's conviction on technical grounds, and a new trial was ordered by the court.
