Dear Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby 120 East Baltimore Street, 9th Floor Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby,
Your office has stated that among its top priorities is “building the public trust in law enforcement and running a transparent and accountable administration.” We are saddened and frustrated that you have not made this a priority in your handling of the case against Keith Davis Jr. You are instead violating the public’s trust by supporting Baltimore Police Department's false imprisonment and attempted murder of Mr. Davis.
On June 7th 2015, Mr. Davis was unjustly pursued, shot, and left to die in an enclosed garage by 4 Baltimore Police officers that you later chose to protect when your office declined to charge any of them, ruling it a justified shooting even before collecting all the details of the case.
Now, it has been over four months and your office has interviewed witnesses, collected evidence, and obtained reports that all clearly show Mr. Davis never should have been pursued, much less shot at 44 times, and imprisoned. Instead, as your evidence clearly indicates, the people who should actually be on trial are Officer Catherine Filippou, Officer Israel Lopez, Sgt. Alfredo Santiago, and Sgt. Lane Eskins.
You commended residents, community organizers, faith leaders and political leaders in Baltimore for their courage and willingness to stand for justice in Freddie Gray's case. Where is your courage and your willingness to stand for justice now?
Keith Davis Jr. should be FREE. Rather than releasing him and refusing to pursue a prosecution you know to be unjust, you have sat by while he has been incarcerated and struggling with health issues stemming from being shot in the face by the same Baltimore Police officers that you declined to charge.
As the chief prosecutor for Baltimore City, you have promised “to treat every individual within the jurisdiction of Baltimore City equally and fairly under the law.” You made a fiery speech about the Freddie Gray case just 6 months ago in which you said you take seriously this duty and your administration’s commitment to “creating a fair and equitable justice system for all." Surely your commitment to justice hasn't dissipated in just half a year, and your ability to stand for justice hasn’t disappeared along with the cameras and media presence in Baltimore. The citizens of Baltimore believed you were speaking in good faith when you addressed those cameras.
Your own evidence shows that Keith Davis Jr. was unjustly pursued, cornered, shot, arrested and indicted, and yet you are pursuing criminal charges against this man who is in fact the victim of the only crime that took place in that garage: an attempted homicide.
Mr. Davis has suffered physically and mentally. He has lost his job, precious time with his family, and other opportunities to better himself while incarcerated. Please separate yourself from this miscarriage of justice and direct your energy toward the officers who fired 44 shots at one man inside of an enclosed garage. We implore you to remember the words you spoke about the “tremendous responsibility” you have to this community.
We demand that you immediately drop the baseless charges against Keith Davis Jr., release him from incarceration, and apologize for your role in the attempted destruction of this young man’s life.
Baltimore Bloc