New evidence raises more questions about a police-involved shooting in February that nearly cost a West Baltimore man his life.
A police photograph of the scene taken just after Fenyanga Muhammed was felled by four bullets shows a bloody popsicle stick on the ground, corroborating the story he told The Examiner in April.
Muhammed, 36, previously said police mistook a popsicle stick in his mouth for drugs, leading to an altercation that ended with three shots in his back and one through his hand.
“The picture proves there was a popsicle in my mouth ? not drugs,” he said.
Police claimed Muhammed tried to grab an officer?s gun while resisting arrest, prompting his partner to fire.
“Officers grabbed me from behind and put me in a chokehold,” he said earlier. “I was trying to free myself because I was choking.”
Muhammed has a bullet next to his spine that could cripple him.
His attorney, Granville Templeton, said the photo he obtained in preparation for the trial proves Muhammed is innocent.
“The photograph clearly confirms Mr. Mohammed?s account of what occurred on that tragic day,” he said. “They went alittle too far when they pulled out their weapon and shot my client. It?s outrageous.”
Prosecutors are still going forward with a second-degree assault case against Muhammed, although drug possession charges have been dropped.
Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for Baltimore City State?s Attorney Patricia Jessamy, said the actions of the police officers also are under investigation.
“The investigation into the police action and the pending criminal case is ongoing, and therefore we cannot comment further at this time,” she said.
Police officials also declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Muhammed?s cousin, Ira Samuel, who witnessed the shooting and corroborated his cousin?s story, said the police are now harassing him.
“My truck was parked and they searched it for two hours, and then they towed it and didn?t tell me why,” he said. “They put my truck on [hold] so I couldn?t get it back. I think they?re trying to intimidate me, but I?m not changing my story. They shot my cousin for no reason.”
