Baltimore police are seeking a suspect who they say killed a man in Northwest Baltimore last month, then burned down his house to intimidate his family and any witnesses from reporting him to police.
The department dubbed Charles Henson, 22, "Public Enemy No. 1" at a news conference Wednesday. Henson has been charged with first-degree murder in the Jan. 28 killing of Davon Johnson, 28, in the 2300 block of Walbrook Ave., in Mondawmin. He is suspected of setting a fire at Johnson's home nearby, in the 2000 block of N. Bentalou, on Feb. 22, police said. The motive in the killing was a dispute between the men, police said.
Homicide detectives had moved Johnson's family into witness protection due to concerns of potential retaliation for their cooperation with police, so they weren't home at the time of the fire, police said.
Henson was released on $25,000 bail after being charged in a heroin distribution ring last year by the Baltimore City State's Attorney's office, according to online court records. He was one of 27 suspects named in the sweeping Mondawmin-area indictment announced in August 2014 after a months-long investigation.
Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said Davis is the fourth "Public Enemy No. 1" named by the department.
"Charles Henson, today, has become the target of the Baltimore Police Department," Batts said. "You don't take a human life in this city and you don't intimidate witnesses within this city."
Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis said Henson is believed to be hiding somewhere in the city.
"We've been on his trail, and he's been ducking us," Davis said. "We know that there are folks out there who may be giving him harbor and refuge."
Anyone caught harboring Henson will be criminally charged, he said.
Batts delivered a message to Henson during the press conference: "Turn yourself in. Go to a news station, go to a reporter, go to your attorney. Turn yourself in, because we're coming after you."
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