Jury Selection Begins in Double Shooting Trial

Raekwon Newman faces charges in April 2025 incident in East Baltimore

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Jury selection has begun in the trial of Raekwon Newman, a 30-year-old Baltimore man charged in a double shooting that occurred last April in the city's Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello neighborhood. The hearing faced several delays before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Catherine Chen took on the case.

Why it matters

Gun violence and public safety remain major concerns in Baltimore, which has struggled with high crime rates in recent years. This trial will shed light on an alleged shooting incident that injured multiple teenage victims and the efforts by law enforcement and the justice system to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The details

According to charging documents, on the afternoon of April 10, 2025, Newman and two suspected co-conspirators shot into a crowd of teenage boys on the 2600 block of Polk Street. A Baltimore Police officer who allegedly recognized Newman from a previous interaction identified him as one of the perpetrators after reviewing surveillance footage of the incident. The charging documents do not provide a motive for the shooting.

  • Jury selection began on February 12, 2026.
  • Opening arguments are expected to be heard on February 17, 2026, following the court's observation of Presidents' Day.
  • The trial is expected to conclude the following day, on February 18, 2026.

The players

Raekwon Newman

A 30-year-old Baltimore man charged in a double shooting that occurred in April 2025 in the city's Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello neighborhood.

Catherine Chen

The Baltimore City Circuit Court judge who is presiding over the trial.

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What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow Newman to be released on bail following the jury selection process.

The takeaway

This trial highlights the ongoing challenges Baltimore faces in addressing gun violence and public safety, as well as the efforts of the criminal justice system to hold alleged perpetrators accountable for their actions.