Baltimore City prosecutors intend today to drop assault and gun-related charges against Baltimore Examiner Editor Frank Keegan.

“In the interest of justice, prosecutors will enter a nolle prosse and dismiss the case,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Margaret Burns said in a telephone call to The Examiner. Nolle prosse, a Latin phrase, means the state will “not prosecute.”

Burns said prosecutors met with the alleged victim and his attorney and assessed the viability of the case before determining not to proceed.

City police arrested Keegan in May after the alleged victim said Keegan’s cigarette smoke seeped into his house. The neighbor accused Keegan of pointing a shotgun at him.

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Keegan, 58, of Baltimore, was charged with second-degree assault and gun violations - misdemeanors - against neighbors David and Christine Ayers and their 3-year-old daughter, who, according to the police report, was in her father’s arms as he confronted Keegan.

Police were called at 11:29 p.m. to Keegan’s Federal Hill residence. Ayers, an Under Armour employee, told police he is involved in an “ongoing dispute” with Keegan regarding cigarette smoke causing respiratory problems for his daughter, Sophie, according to the police report.

Ayers attempted to confront his neighbor about the smoke, “pounding” on Keegan’s door, according to police. From inside the house, Ayers told police he heard Keegan yell, “You [expletive] lunatics, get away from my door.”

Ayers claimed Keegan “racked” a shotgun while inside his house — a charge Keegan disputes — whereupon Ayers told police he said, “Whoa, whoa” and backed away from the house.

Police confiscated a shotgun and pistol from Keegan’s residence. The police report indicated that there was no round in the chamber of the shotgun.

Keegan’s attorney, Charles Curlett, declined to comment.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com