A Baltimore judge declared a mistrial Friday after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case of a man accused of killing his friend.
Charles Henson, 24, who police dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1," was charged with first-degree murder in the Jan. 28 fatal shooting of Davon Johnson, 28, in the 2300 block of Walbrook Ave. Police said the two men had a dispute.
Police also suspected Henson of setting a fire at Johnson's home nearby, in the 2000 block of N. Bentalou St., on Feb. 22, to intimidate witnesses who are now under protection. Henson was never charged in the fire.
On the first day of testimony on Oct. 13, Johnson's mother, Acquinetta Johnson, said she watched her son leave their home with Henson and later heard gunshots. She testified that she saw Henson standing over her son with a gun and fire. She said she ran back into her home because she was afraid.
She said she did not immediately provide information to police because she feared retaliation against her and her granddaughter. She said didn't talk to neighbors about the shooting, either, because "they all know each other," she said.
Henson's attorney, Richard Woods said jurors deliberated longer than it took to present evidence.
He said prosecutors intend to retry Henson.
"While we are disappointed in today's outcome, we will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice for the victim and his family," Rochelle Ritchie, a spokeswoman for the State's Attorney's Office, said in a statement.
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