Opening statements got Thursday underway in Baltimore City Circuit Court in the attempted murder trial of 41-year-old Eddie Murphy, who prosecutors say opened fire on the owner of American Wings & Pizza during a New Year’s Day armed robbery in Charles Village. Jurors listened as prosecutors sketched out a tense robbery-turned-shooting that will now be picked apart in front of Judge LaZette Ringgold‑Kirksey.
Prosecutors told jurors that on Jan. 1, 2025, two masked assailants walked into the American Wings & Pizza takeout on the 2400 block of St. Paul Street, demanded cash from the register and from customers, and that a struggle followed that ended with the owner shot twice in the head and once in the arm before he managed to drive himself to a hospital, according to Baltimore Witness. The state says surveillance and CitiWatch camera footage let detectives retrace the suspects’ steps and ultimately identify one of them after he removed his mask in a nearby store.
Police investigation and arrests
According to a BPD press release, detectives secured arrest warrants and took Murphy into custody on April 5, 2025, followed by the arrest of Christopher Brigerman on April 9, 2025. Police say Brigerman later confessed and identified Murphy as a participant in the crime. During the broader probe, the department also linked Murphy to several other shootings and to an armed carjacking, while local TV coverage reported that investigators relied on multiple surveillance sources to assemble the timeline of the alleged crime spree, per WMAR2.
Arguments in court
In opening statements, the prosecutor told jurors, “I am going to ask you to hold him accountable for his actions and find him guilty,” while defense attorney Jason Rodriguez countered by urging the panel “to return the only proper verdict — not guilty,” according to Baltimore Witness. The trial is scheduled to continue today with witness testimony.
