Squeegee worker charged in fatal shooting feared for his safety, lawyers say; Teen denied bail
BALTIMORE -- Lawyers for a teenager charged in the fatal shooting of a man wielding a bat at a downtown Baltimore intersection last week said the boy feared for his life and that his first-degree murder charge should be dropped.
The teenager, who attended high school in Baltimore City but lived in Essex, was denied bail Friday afternoon after the judge deemed him a danger to the public.
Timothy Reynolds, 48, died July 7 after he was shot during a dispute with squeegee workers near the corner of Light and Conway streets.
Police said there was an initial confrontation between the workers and Reynolds, who parked his car and got out armed with the bat. He was advancing toward the group when he was shot, police said.
The 15-year-old suspect was arrested and charged Thursday in Reynolds' death. In addition to first- and second-degree murder, he faces assault and gun-related charges.
The prosecutor in the case alleged Friday that Reynolds was surrounded by 3 squeegee window washers and had been hit by a rock and became disoriented when he was shot, according to WJZ investigator Mike Hellgren.
Charging documents state Tim Reynolds was walking away when he was shot. Prosecutor says he was surrounded by 3 squeegee window washers and had been hit by a rock and became disoriented when he was shot. @wjz
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 15, 2022
His attorneys, J. Wyndal Gordon and Warren Brown, said in a news conference Friday they have a strong case for the teen.
Gordon said his client believes he was in immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury.
"This case is very defensible. Someone wielding a bat is deadly force," Gordon said.
J Wyndal Gordon and Warren Brown are representing teen charged in Tim Reynolds killing. They say he attended high school in Baltimore “There’s a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, a lot of confusion” @wjz pic.twitter.com/noDFKSu2nZ
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 15, 2022
Brown said "it's unclear who did the shooting," and said his client had no prior criminal, but that he would squeegee on President Street and on Conway Street.
The lawyers claim the teen was making money to support two younger brothers and sister, would make $95 to $200 a day, and that he had been squeegeeing for 7 years.
"He was just out there trying to make some money," Brown said. "Honest money."
The lawyers said the case should be tried in juvenile court, and that the shooting is not first-degree murder. They said they have not yet seen footage of the confrontation and shooting.
Brown calls his client a “frail 14 year old” and says “politics” has entered into the case. He says this is a case of “road rage.” “We get angry so quick…none of this had to happen. This is not broken wiper blades…he had some water squirted on his windshield.” @wjz
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 15, 2022
The teen suspect's father spoke alongside the lawyers at the press conference.
"He's never been through anything like this," the dad said. "It's a shock to all of us."