Knott Faces Fourth Homicide Trial in January
Timothy Knott, charged in the 2024 fatal shooting of Anthony Pearson, is set to be tried again after three prior mistrials.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Violence
Timothy Knott, 30, is scheduled for a fourth homicide trial beginning January 12, 2027, in Baltimore City Circuit Court on charges of first-degree murder and several weapons violations. His three earlier trials each ended in a mistrial after a hung jury.
Why it matters
The repeated mistrials have left the 2024 killing of 43-year-old Anthony Pearson unresolved for more than two years, with Pearson's family and the Baltimore courts awaiting a verdict. The case reflects the difficulty of securing a conviction when juries cannot reach agreement in a homicide prosecution.
Knott faces first-degree murder and several weapons charges, with a four-day trial set to begin January 12, 2027, before Judge Althea M. Handy. Maureen Rowland is his new defense attorney, and no revised plea offer has been made.
The players
Timothy Knott
Timothy Knott is the 30-year-old defendant charged in the 2024 fatal shooting of Anthony Pearson in Baltimore.
Maureen Rowland
Maureen Rowland is a defense attorney who has been appointed as Timothy Knott's new counsel for his upcoming trial.
Judge Althea M. Handy
Judge Althea M. Handy is a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge who received Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr.'s reassigned cases, including Knott's.
The details
Knott is accused of fatally shooting Anthony Pearson on April 29, 2024, on the 4600 block of Garrison Boulevard, reportedly in retaliation for Pearson's alleged killing of Knott's cousin. Warren Brown's motion to withdraw as Knott's defense counsel was granted October 20, and Gregory Fischer of the Office of the Public Defender stood in at a November 6 hearing.
Timeline
April 29, 2024: Anthony Pearson is fatally shot on Garrison Boulevard.
April 2025: Knott's first trial ends in a mistrial.
February 2026: Knott's second trial ends in a mistrial.
September 2026: Knott's third trial ends in a mistrial.
January 12, 2027: Knott's fourth homicide trial is scheduled to begin.
Legal Context
Repeated hung-jury mistrials in a single homicide case, as seen in Knott's three earlier trials before Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr., can prolong prosecutions for years. The fourth trial marks a further test of how Baltimore courts handle cases that juries repeatedly fail to resolve.
Residents of the Garrison Boulevard area and Baltimore more broadly are affected by the continued uncertainty over a fatal shooting that remains unresolved after multiple trials. The outcome of the January 2027 trial will determine whether the case reaches a final verdict.
The takeaway
Long-running criminal cases can take years to resolve when juries deadlock, and each retrial adds to the time families wait for a verdict. Following the January 2027 trial will show whether this case finally reaches a conclusion.
What happens next
Knott's fourth homicide trial is scheduled to begin January 12, 2027, and is expected to last four days.
Further reading
Explore more local reporting in the Violence section for context on similar Baltimore cases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Baltimore Witness.
