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Jo’Mir Norman, 18, is charged with first- and second-degree murder, among other offenses, in the fatal shooting of Virgil Simms on Oct. 20, 2024.

On Monday, the jury heard opening statements from Dorchester County State’s Attorney Amanda Leonard, the lead prosecutor, and defense attorney Margaret Fox, as well as testimony from witnesses.

Norman sat at the right of Fox dressed in an all-gray suit. He faces nine total charges, three of which are felony charges — the first- and second-degree murder counts and a count of first-degree assault.

Leonard recounted the “senseless killing� in which she said Norman and another shooter acted together to murder Simms on Pine Street, firing many rounds at Simms before fleeing the scene. She said no matter who landed the fatal shot, they are both responsible for the crime.

“One doesn’t get exonerated because they had better or worse aim,� she said.

Leonard told jurors to expect lots of video evidence and expert testimony about how surveillance cameras work. Prosecutors are also expected to bring forward “distinctive clothing� worn by Norman on the day of the murder as evidence.

Fox argued the state will present no forensic evidence nor an eyewitness placing Norman at the scene.

“The state’s case is not resting upon direct evidence. ... It’s completely circumstantial,� Fox said. “This case comes down to what you can see with your eyes,� the defense attorney added.

Leonard and Fox’s arguments to the jury both acknowledged a hiccup in the early days of the murder investigation — the misidentification of the other main suspect. Initially, police charged then-15-year-old Brian Wongus Jr. in connection to the murder.

Maryland State Police announced the arrests of Norman and Wongus in an Oct. 28 press release. But Wongus was misidentified by police, the attorneys said.

An MSP spokesperson said Tuesday that “in consultation with the Office of the State’s Attorney in Dorchester County,� charges against Wongus were dropped in late October or early November.

In the courtroom Monday, Fox looked to poke a hole in the state’s case, telling the jury that prosecutors are depending upon “the same video evidence that led to the misidentification of somebody.�

Leonard said “police readily and quickly� discovered the misidentification. Surveillance cameras linking Norman to the crime stand true, she said.

“All of the evidence always pointed at Jo’Mir Norman,� Leonard said.

Prosecutors brought three witnesses to the stand Monday afternoon: a police officer and EMT who responded to the shooting, as well as Simms’ mother Yolanda Hernandez.

Hernandez provided a brief but emotional testimony as prosecutors asked her about her son.

Hernandez said she and Simms had grown closer since he had two young children. She said he liked to cook, grill and joke around. “He was a decent guy,� Hernandez said.

Jurors are expected to hear from a number of expert witnesses in the coming days. The trial is scheduled to run through Thursday.