Prosecution rests in Cpl. Glenn Hilliard murder trial, defendent will not testify

May 5, 2023

Han Cechini,

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – The trial of Austin Jacob Allen Davidson entered day five Friday. Davidson entered the courtroom with his hair down, wearing a white long-sleeve button-up shirt and black slacks.

The prosecution now rests. Friday’s court proceedings included dropped charges, and we learned whether or not Davidson would testify in his own defense. Davidson is accused of shooting and killing Wicomico County Sheriff’s Corporal Glenn Hilliard in the line of duty on June 12th, 2022.

Lead Investigator Closes Testimony

Maryland State Police Sergeant Steve Hallman, the lead investigator in the case, took the stand Friday. Sgt. Hallman detailed the night in question, explaining where he went, and how the investigation started.

Sgt. Hallman says on June 12th, 2022, he arrived at the Pittsville Volunteer Fire Company’s (PVFC) staging area around 10:00 p.m. At that point, Sgt. Hallman says he knew the suspect was still at large. “It was a very chaotic, fluid scene. Dynamic. Officers coming in from everywhere,” Sgt. Hallman told the jury.

Sgt. Hallman then checked in with other law enforcement officers, and departed for the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) in Salisbury. Because the scene was so active, Sgt. Hallman says he needed a quiet place to begin his investigation; reviewing Cpl. Hilliard’s body-worn camera footage to help identify the suspect.

As Sgt. Hallman explained to the jury, Axon body-worn cameras are always recording. However, Sgt. Hallman says when the cameras are switched to “active mode,” it marks the point in the recording, and saves the previous 30 seconds to one minute. Sgt. Hallman says WCSO’s body-worn cameras are set to record the full back minute.

Surveillance Footage Details Davidson’s Movements on June 12th, 2022

Prosecutors also presented the jury with a video clip of a chronological timeline of Davidson’s movements leading up to Cpl. Hilliard’s death. Sgt. Hallman pieced the clip together using footage from PVFC and Pittsville Mart, and narrated it for the jury.

The video starts at 8:00 p.m. on June 12th, 2022, and lasts for about 26 minutes. Davidson is seen on PVFC surveillance footage walking along Gumboro Road, past the Talbot Apartments complex, towards Pittsville Mart.

Pittsville Mart surveillance footage then shows Davidson walk past the store, turn around, and come back. WCSO Deputy First Class Chase Harmon is seen driving by in his cruiser, just seconds after Davidson enters the store.

Davidson stays inside the store for a few minutes, then comes back outside and spends several minutes talking on the phone in the parking lot, swinging a black plastic bag from his hand. He then walks back in the direction of the Talbot Apartments complex.

The video then shows Cpl. Hilliard driving by Davidson on Gumboro Road right before Davidson gets to the complex parking lot. Davidson is seen turning to look at the cruiser as it passes, then breaking into a run into the parking lot. The clip then switches back to Pittsville Mart surveillance footage, showing Cpl. Hilliard pull into the parking lot, turn his cruiser around, and head back toward the complex just a few minutes later.

Next, the clip switches back to PVFC surveillance footage, showing Cpl. Hilliard pulling into the complex parking lot. Minutes later, Davidson and Cpl. Hilliard can be seen running in the distance, just before three gunshots ring out.

Texts, Snapchat Messages Reveal More About Days Leading to Shooting

The jury was also shown more text messages and Snapchat messages recovered from Davidson’s phone in the investigation. The messages were shared between Davidson and his acquaintances and ex-girlfriend in the days leading up to, and on the day of, the shooting.

On June 6th, 2022, Davidson sent a Snapchat message to his ex-girlfriend reading “I will die B4 [sic] I see that cell again and any cop that trys [sic] to put me back in that cell is gonna [sic] die with me.”

Other messages sent on June 9th, 2022 from Davidson detail his impending homelessness, and him telling friends that he was on the run from police with two firearms and a basket of dirty clothes. Also in those messages, Davidson said he planned to trade or sell one of the firearms, and find a “bando,” or abandoned home, to hide in.

On June 11th, 2022, Davidson messages an acquaintance saying he has been kicked out of another friend’s home because “the peoples [sic] parents found out I’m staying here on the run,” and “They on my ass down here,” and “I’m on the news so [finding] rooms [to stay in] might not be a good idea.” Davidson also said in the messages that maybe he should cover up his face tattoo, dye his hair, or trim his facial hair differently.

On that same day, Davidson’s acquaintance, Ian Collins, who had been letting him stay in his home in Salisbury, informed him he had to move out; “You have to leave tomorrow bro Kim is not letting they [sic] baby come back cuz your [sic] there bro I’m sorry but you got to go bro.” Davidson responds, “Ok,” and Collins messages back, “I feel terrible bro but they live there and it’s there [sic] baby.”

Later that day, Davidson messages a friend, asking for help with doing some laundry, and for a new pair of socks because his last pair is “soaked.” He again writes about needing to find a “bando.” Later, he sends another message reading “Change of plans I’m moving back home to Baltimore… Thats [sic] why I’m tryn [sic] wash my clothes now.”

At 9:12 p.m. on June 12th, 2022, Davidson sent a message to an acquaintance reading, “I shot a cop.” When he texts Collins that same night as he was hiding, saying he hears dogs, Collins replies, “ok well stay in there and don’t move stay low.” Davidson asks Collins to help him, to which he replies, “I csnt [sic] they know everything.” In Snapchat messages to his ex-girlfriend that night, she told Davidson she would forgive him if he turned himself in.

The jury was also shown a video of Davidson pointing a rifle at the camera, then a handgun with a red laser sight shining, and him wearing grills. Another video, recorded by Davidson on June 12th, 2022, shows him again pointing a rifle at the camera, then a handgun with a red laser sight shining, before panning to a pile of dirty clothing in the backseat of the vehicle he was in. Sgt. Hallman told the jury the video was recorded near Pittsville Park.

The defense did not cross examine Sgt. Hallman.

Prosecution Rests, Charges Dropped

The jury was dismissed at 11:25 a.m. on Friday, following Sgt. Hallman’s testimony. At 1:00 p.m., the prosecution, defense attorneys, Davidson, and the judge returned to discuss next steps.

Defense Attorney Archibald McFadden asked for counts 1 and 2 to be dropped; first- and second-degree murder charges. He said the prosecution would have to prove that Davidson premeditated the shooting, and intended to kill Cpl. Hilliard. McFadden also asked for count 10, a burglary charge, and counts 14, 16, and 17, firearms charges, to be dropped.

The judge kept counts 1 and 2 in place, saying that the evidence and testimony presented in the trial supported the charges. He said the same for the burglary charge, which is related to Davidson allegedly breaking and entering into an RV and abandoned home in Willards on the day of the shooting.

Prosecutors dropped seven charges, all firearms related, on technicality; they say they did not meet their burden of proof for those charges.

At the end of court proceedings, Davidson told the court that he would not testify in his own defense. The jury can not consider that decision in their deliberations.

Monday’s proceedings are expected to include jury instruction, closing arguments, and deliberation. The jury is now tasked with coming to a unanimous decision on each count, of which there are about a dozen. Additionally, there is a large amount of evidence and testimony to consider.