During the trial, a Baltimore teen allegedly shooting an officer’s husband said: “The gun did the work by itself.”
Sahiou Kargbo, 19 years old, was charged with first- and second-degree murder for killing James Blue III, 43-year-old, father of three and the husband of Baltimore Police Capt. Lekeshia Blue, as reported on Fox News.
Blue was killed while waiting in his car on January 25, 2022, for a refrigerator to be delivered to a newly purchased property in Northeast Baltimore.
In his testimony on Tuesday, Eugene Secola claimed that a masked shooter approached Blue’s car and shot nearly the full magazine of bullets into the dark Honda Accord. As he fired, the assailant turned around the automobile. The shooter ran around and shot the man two or three more times after seeing him open the door and exit the vehicle.
19-year-old Sahiou Kargbo found guilty of second-degree murder, said on trial: “The gun did the work by itself.” (Photo: WBAL-TV 11)
The Baltimore Sun reported that Blue had a handgun permit and was also armed on the day of the shooting, but he could not use it. An hour later, he passed away at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
A day later, Kargbo was detained on suspicion of an armed robbery after receiving a warrant. Two handguns, one loaded with an extended magazine, were discovered during the county investigators’ search of his home. The handguns would prove crucial in the police investigation into Blue’s death.
Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya Lapolla said Karbo shot Blue 10 times, and they will also present cellphone data showing Kargbo near the crime scene at the time of the shooting.
Assistant Public Defender Todd Oppenheim admitted that Kargbo shot and killed Blue; however, he argued that the shooting was manslaughter and not murder. He filed an appeal arguing that his client committed a lesser crime and should only be sentenced to ten years in jail rather than 40 for second-degree murder and life imprisonment without the possibility of early release for premeditated murder.
Oppenheim further accused the family of Blue of using “tremendous pressure” in connection to Lekeshia Blue’s family background.
Baltimore Police Capt. Lekeshia Blue, 25 -year-old and wife of James Blue III, was a lieutenant at the time of his husband’s murder but was later promoted. She revealed her father is retired as a commander, her cousin oversees the department’s homicide unit, and her brother is a city police sergeant. However, she testified that she did not use her family connection or call any favours while investigating her husband’s death.
Fox News reported Karbo is not guilty of first-degree murder but guilty of second-degree murder and three firearms charges.
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