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Sheriff: Family members of murder victim attack defendant during trial in Baltimore courthouse

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BALTIMORE — Three men were taken into custody following an attack in a Baltimore courthouse on Tuesday, per the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office.

Around 11:30 a.m., at the Clarence M. Mitchell Courthouse in downtown Baltimore, the Assistant State's Attorney was showing video evidence during the murder trial of Joseph Walker.

Walker, 50, was arrested in April of 2024 for the murder of 26-year-old Marvin Jackson in the 1800 block of Aiken Street back in December 2023.

When the ASA was showing an evidentiary video allegedly showing Walker shooting Jackson, the three men, 23-year-old Marlon Jackson, 25-year-old Marquis Jackson, and 47-year-old Marvin Jackson, stood up in the courtroom and rushed the table where Walker was sitting.

A deputy sheriff and two correctional officers engaged in a physical fight with the three men while the judge and jury quickly left the room.

All three men were apprehended after a chemical OC spray was deployed in the courtroom.

“I commend the quick response of the deputy sheriff and the correctional officers, who acted decisively and used minimal force to prevent the defendant from being seriously harmed,” said Sheriff Sam Cogen.

“No one is permitted to take the law into their own hands or disrupt a court proceeding. While we understand the pain of losing a loved one to violence, the actions of these family members were unacceptable. Not only did their outburst have the potential to cause a mistrial in a case intended to deliver justice, but they now face serious charges that could result in significant jail time. No one wins in this situation, because there is a delay in justice.”

With all court proceedings having to cease due to the fight, the trial is set to continue on Wednesday, July 23.