Defendant Claims Bus Shooting Was Intended to Intimidate, Not Fatal

A Baltimore City jury convened on July 16 to hear closing arguments in the case of Antonio Nance, 43, who has opted to represent himself in court after parting ways with his former defense attorney, Augustine Okeke.

Nance faces serious charges including attempted first-degree and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and several gun-related offenses. These charges stem from an incident on August 12, 2025, when he allegedly shot at a fellow passenger on a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus located on the 2400 block of W. Franklin Street. Fortunately, the victim did not sustain any injuries.

During the proceedings, a detective from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) testified that Nance admitted to discarding the firearm used in the incident by throwing it into a gutter. However, law enforcement was unable to locate the weapon.

While cross-examining the detective, Nance questioned the nature of the recovered evidence, specifically whether it consisted of bullet fragments or shell casings. The detective clarified multiple times that the evidence was indeed bullet fragments. Nance also contended that the firearm was loaded with blanks, a claim that the detective refuted by asserting it contained live ammunition.

The case continues to unfold as the jury deliberates on the evidence presented.

Reported by HarborBeat based on Baltimore Fishbowl (source).