Mistrial Declared In Annapolis Mass Shooting Case: Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the case of a 2023 Annapolis mass shooting that killed three men, multiple reports said.

The Balimore Banner reported that Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Wachs said the state's attorney made "several transgressions" tainting the testimony of suspect Charles Robert Smith.

Smith is a white Army veteran who said he has post-traumatic stress disorder. He was accused of fatally shooting three Hispanic men after a parking dispute during his neighbor's party on June 11, 2023, in the 1000 block of Paddington Place.

Smith faced murder and hate crime charges in the deaths of 55-year-old Nicolas Mireles of Odenton, his son 27-year-old Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz of Annapolis and their family friend, 25-year-old Christian Marlon Segovia Jr. of Annapolis.

Smith was also accused of shooting three other victims who survived.

The Capital Gazette said Smith's team of public defenders — Anne Stewart-Hill, Felipe Gonzalez and Denis O'Connell — requested the mistrial Wednesday after the defendant testified the day prior on "his military career, relationships with the people who testified against him and experience before, during and after the shooting."

The Capital Gazette reported that Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess' cross-examination of Smith "was combative and argumentative." Capital Gazette said Smith cursed at Leitess, told her "I didn't stutter" and called her an "overzealous, needs-to-retire prosecutor."

The judge "apologized to the victims, their families, the defendant, his attorneys, the taxpayers and the community at large, saying he recognized the 'trauma this continues to cause for everyone involved,'" the Capital Gazette said.

"I don't believe you're intending to cause a mistrial … but that doesn't change for me what was said to the jury in a crucial part of the case," Wachs told Leitess, according to the Capital Gazette.

Charging documents obtained by WBAL said the shooting followed a parking dispute. The documents said Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz was hosting the large party.

Smith's mother called the city to report a vehicle blocking their driveway, and Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz went over to discuss the issue. An argument ensued and Smith arrived. Smith then shot Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz and Segovia, the documents said.

Police said Smith went inside his house, got a rifle, fired shots outside the window at partygoers coming outside and killed Nicolas Mireles.

To see reactions to the mistrial, read the Capital Gazette's story.

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