Baltimore police looks to fire 2 employees, discipline others over 2023 Brooklyn Day shooting

BALTIMORE -- Two Baltimore Police employees were recommended to be fired and 10 others disciplined after an internal investigation into its response to the deadly 2023 Brooklyn Day mass shooting uncovered policy and misconduct violations. 

The recommendations, made after a nearly year-long investigation, were announced Thursday in a police press release. No employees were named, and the circumstances of the violations were not disclosed. 

Fifteen employees were investigated, including a captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, three officers and five staff members.

Those charged were eight sworn officers and four civilian employees for "violations due to actions or inactions tied to the mass shooting and/or the investigation into possible misconduct." 

Twelve employees were charged with false statements, neglect of duty, body-worn camera violation, and conduct unbecoming. 

One officer and one civilian were fired. Three officers lost four days of pay. Two officers lost three days of pay. And two officers and three civilians lost two days of pay.     

"This tragedy has left deep scars on all of Baltimore — made worse by the understanding that there were preventable failures and mistakes made by those who are charged with keeping all of our residents safe," Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement Thursday. "These recommendations are fair, and hopefully they will aid in the effort to heal from this tragedy and ensure the department is better equipped moving forward."

Family of murdered woman seeks justice

The family of Aaliyah Gonzalez, one of the two killed in the shooting, said they are thankful someone is being held accountable. No one has been charged directly in the murders of Gonzalez and Kylis Fagbemi.

"It's great that they're being held accountable," said John Young, Gonzalez's uncle.

Young spoke with WJZ nearly a year after the July 2, 2023, shooting at the large, unpermitted Brooklyn Day block party that left 28 more injured.

"They should've been up there, so many people," Young said.

Gonzalez's family says more needs to be done to bring justice for the deaths of the two young adults.

"We just want the perpetrators caught," Young said. "The person that shot my niece in the head, we need to know who they are."

Five people have been charged for being involved in shooting, and three of them took plea deals.

"We're trying to hope and have some faith that soon somebody will be held accountable for Aaliyah's death," Young said.

Mayor deems disciplines as fair

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the reprimands fair.

"I hope that everyone, not just in BPD, but across city government sees that if you don't do your job, you'll be held accountable, period," Scott said.

Scott said the investigation into the response to the Brooklyn Day shooting is ongoing.  

Police inaction, lapses in intelligence on Brooklyn Day 

A 173-page "after action" report, released in August 2023, found some police supervisors failed to do their jobs, ignored what was going on around them and did not call for reinforcements. 

The report found some police supervisors "gave very little consideration on the potential public safety concerns of having a crowd the size of 800 to 900 people without sufficient police presence."

And they, along with two CitiWatch camera operators, ignored signs of the party.

There were also lapses in intelligence. 

Police initially said they did not know of Brooklyn Day 2023 despite social media postings and flyers advertising the event recorded by the department's intelligence.

Last year after the report was released, then-acting BPD Commissioner Richard Worley promised accountability.

A cookout thrown into chaos 

Hundreds were celebrating the annual "Brooklyn Day" block party last July when gunfire erupted, killing 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi, and injuring 28. 

Five suspects were charged in the shooting. Aaron Brown, 18, and, Tristan Brian Jackson, 18, along with three minors, were charged with attempted first and second-degree murder. 

A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old pleaded guilty last month to first-degree assault and minor in possession of a firearm. They were sentenced to 25 years in prison with 20 years suspended and five years of probation. 

Mikhi Jackson, who was 17 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to being a minor in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to five years, with four years suspended, and two years of probation.