Arson investigation underway after fire near Baltimore mass shooting scene
BALTIMORE --The Baltimore City Fire Department Arson Unit is investigating an overnight fire that happened near the location of a recent mass shooting, according to The Baltimore Banner.
The blaze, which started around 10:00 p.m., happened at 1301 N. Spring St., an address that is registered to TB Aberdeen Motorcycle Club Inc., according to The Banner. No injuries were reported in the fire.
Anthony Martin, 36, was killed in the Sunday night mass shooting, and seven other people were injured. A friend of Martin told WJZ that he was just there to play basketball when the violence erupted as the motorcycle group was holding a gathering.
A longtime resident of the Oliver community where the shooting happened told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren he heard about 15 shots that night.
Markia Beckwith owns Natural Born Champions, which is right next door to the motorcycle club. She says she feels like collateral damage after the fire. While her building was not impacted by the flames, the smell of smoke lingers and ash dusts the equipment inside.
"I ran down here as soon as I could. That was around like 10:30-11 last night," Beckwith said. "We're still collateral damage at this point. I'm just feeling like, if we don't resolve communication, togetherness, and collectivity, something like this could happen again."
This community has been the center of chaos this week. People in Oliver say they are hoping for some calm after the storm.
"We're just looking for some healing. We're just looking for unity," Diana Williams, president of the People's Association of Oliver Community, said. "People have to just come out, be more neighborly, say hello."
The People's Association of Oliver Community is hosting a community meeting on Thursday at the Knox Presbyterian Church on N. Eden St at 6:00 p.m.
The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) says it is in the Oliver community supporting residents as part of continued Coordinated Neighborhood Stabilization Response work following the mass shooting.
Baltimore City Police nor Baltimore City Fire have not confirmed if the fire and mass shooting are related.