Homicide detectives used a man’s distinctive limp to track down one of three suspects whom they believe played a role in the shooting death of a 19-year-old man in Morrell Park.
Baltimore police announced on Wednesday that Devin Shadle, 22, was arrested in connection to the shooting of Davon Smallwood.
Smallwood was one of two people shot and killed in the heart of the south Baltimore neighborhood last within a 72-hour period last week. He was gunned down Dec. 10. The other gunshot victim, Michael Hitchens, 14, was fatally shot Dec. 13.
The charging documents for Shadle describe how homicide detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a liquor store that showed three people loitering around the 1900 block of Harman Avenue ahead of the shooting. All three individuals were dressed in black clothing.
One person was wearing ripped blue jeans with a black patch around the knees. That person was “walking with a pronounced and distinct limp,” according to court records. They reportedly separated from the group and entered an apartment in the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard for roughly two minutes.
Minutes later, he rejoined his companions. The trio appeared to engage in a conversation prior to approaching Smallwood who, at the time, was sitting in the back seat of an older-model white Toyota in the 1900 block of Harman Avenue. That is when the violence began, according to the charging documents.
“All three suspects forcefully removed Mr. Smallwood from the vehicle and began assaulting him,” court records state. “During the assault, one suspect produced a handgun and shot the victim in the head. One suspect fled northbound on Harman Avenue, while the other two fled westbound through a nearby alley.”
LISTEN | Baltimore police respond to a deadly shooting in Morrell Park
A crime lab technician found at the shooting site one 9-millimeter cartridge casing, a pair of black and blue Jordan shoes, a black American flag beanie, and a red iPhone.
Investigators noted that “a clear bag containing suspected crack cocaine was recovered from the victim,” and that Smallwood’s front right pants pocket was turned inside out.
Surveillance footage showed the two suspects entering the same apartment in the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard following the shooting. Roughly 40 minutes later, the person with the distinct limp was seen exiting the residence. Then, they limped over to the liquor store while homicide detectives were inside of it investigating the deadly shooting, according to the charging documents.
Investigators detained that person and identified them as Shadle.
Court records state that detectives took Shadle to the Baltimore Police Department’s headquarters building. Shadle declined to speak to detectives without an attorney present.
ALSO READ | Catonsville man receives 40-year sentence for leading violent carjackings and kidnappings
Later that night, detectives acquired a search warrant for his apartment. Shadle’s charging documents describe how detectives gained entry to his residence with the assistance of the SWAT team in the early hours of Dec. 11.
“Detectives located the clothing Mr. Shadle was seen wearing during the incident inside a dryer,” court records state. “The clothing was still wet. Items recovered included gloves, a facemask, the ripped blue jeans with the black knee patches, a black T-shirt, and a black jacket. Detectives also recovered numerous clear bags containing suspected crack cocaine believed to be the same type of narcotics recovered from the victim on scene.”
Additionally, investigators said they found a black bag containing a single Glock-style magazine with two live 9-millimeter bullets and 12 loose bullets.
Shadle’s charging documents state that he has only been charged with first-degree assault.
Shadle has previously been charged with committing crimes in Morrell Park. Earlier this year, Shadle was charged with second-degree assault, the illegal possession of ammunition, fourth-degree burglary, and the malicious destruction of property valued at under $1,000.
The charges stem from allegations that Shadle had entered the home of a woman who lived in the 2000 block of Harman Avenue without her permission on June. 15. That woman claimed to be the mother of Shadle’s ex-girlfriend. She said she was sleeping on the couch when Shadle entered her home, according to court records filed in June.
“After yelling at her, Mr. Devin went into the basement” where he reportedly “started flipping things over and destroyed a Vizio TV in the house,” court records state. Then, he went back upstairs where he allegedly pointed a black handgun at the woman and told her, “I’ll blow your brains out.”
Additionally, the woman told police that Shadle destroyed the plants in front of her house when he left the residence, according to the charging documents.
Around that time, officers were looking for the person responsible for rattling residents in the area with a burst of gunfire in the heart of Morrell Park.
Shadle’s charging documents show that an officer reviewed closed circuit television footage at the same liquor store in the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard in an effort to find whoever was responsible for the gunfire. The officer took notice of “a male walking with a limp and a hoodie” in the camera footage and exited the bar to search for that person.
The suspicious person who caught the officer’s attention was still limping along the main thoroughfare that cuts through Morrell Park. Court records state that the person refused to stop for the officer and instead went inside a home across the street from the bar “and closed the door.”
That person was later identified as Shadle, according to the charging documents.
Investigators describe in the documents how additional officers gathered outside of the home with a bunker and a ram. They issued multiple commands for the man to exit the home until he complied with their orders.
After he was arrested, Shadle signed a consent to search form, which allowed officers to enter a home he had been seen exiting on Washington Boulevard. Court records state that officers went through the residence and found no sign of a firearm. They did recover one live 9-millimeter round from beneath the mattress in Shadle’s bedroom, though.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate both fatal shootings in Morrell Park, Baltimore Police Department spokesperson Vernon Davis said on Friday.
Local Story
