Juveniles arrested in Federal Hill attempted carjacking; victim punched, escapes with child

BALTIMORE - A recent victim of juvenile violence in Baltimore City is calling for action as state leaders grapple with how best to make juvenile offenders accountable.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren spoke to him about his ordeal on Federal Hill in the wake of several recent assaults and carjackings in Baltimore City involving children as young as 12. 

"They saw my child—my 8-year-old child— inside my car and they still proceeded to try to steal my car, and not only steal my car but try to abduct my child in the car. That didn't even stop them. The only thing that stopped them was the fact that I turned on the car and was reversing out. That's when they started running," said the victim, who declined to give his full name for security reasons.

The attack happened on Wheeling Street near the intersection with Light Street after multiple young people approached. Video WJZ obtained shows them opening his doors.

The victim said one person punched him and sent his glasses flying. 

They stole his keys, but he was able to drive off anyway.

Police later arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old. 

A 13-year-old who authorities determined did not participate in the attempted carjacking and assault was released to his parents. 

"Of course, it's terrifying and traumatic. I was surprised. Initially, I didn't think they were that young. They seemed older," the victim said. "I was trying to protect myself and of course protect my child. I was punched in the face and pushed around."

It is one of several recent violent incidents involving juveniles in Baltimore City.

Last Friday on Sinclair Lane, police arrested a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old after they committed an armed robbery, fled and struck a police car in a vehicle stolen in a second armed robbery. 

One week ago, a man was punched and assaulted with a lacrosse stick on Light Street near the Inner Harbor. Police arrested a 13-year-old.

Also last week, a 12-year-old was arrested after fleeing police in a car stolen from Anne Arundel County and released to his parent. Police said they could not issue any citations because of his age.    

And a 14-year-old girl pushed a man to the ground during an attempted armed robbery at a Gwynns Falls Parkway gas station. 

The federal hill victim worries about a lack of consequences.

"They clearly knew in the back of their mind, there would be no repercussions, there would be no accountability and they could proceed and do whatever it is that they wanted to do," he said, noting that parents must also be held accountable. 

Just weeks before the primary election, Mayor Brandon Scott defended his record on crime at a City Hall news conference and told WJZ carjackings are down 5 percent. He said between July and mid-February, there were 471 juvenile arrests.

"Under my leadership, we always the largest single-year reduction in homicides this city has ever seen. Under my leadership, we've opened more rec centers than we have in many, many decades," the mayor said. 

He said the city is working to engage with young people as Spring Break approaches.

"There have been tragic incidents that have resulted in young people being put in harm's way," Mayor Scott said. 

Juvenile justice legislation is Cornell being considered in the Maryland General Assembly that would look at consequences for juvenile offenders, particularly those under age 13.