Mayor Responds To Deadliest Month In Baltimore In 16 Years
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Bloodshed in Baltimore's streets. The month of May is the deadliest in the city in more than a decade and it's not over yet.
Mike Hellgren has the latest.
Shooting after shooting, the crime tape, responding cops, and bullet markers--are all-too-familiar across Baltimore particularly in the Western District.
The number of non-fatal shootings citywide has almost doubled year-to-date. Last weekend was particularly bloody, with 30 people shot--8 of them killed, making this month Baltimore's deadliest in 16 years.
Patricia Jordan lost her only son to street violence.
"As a mom, that's something you carry with you every day," she said. "He was 16 on the bus stop coming from school. There are good citizens out here. I don't bring harm to no one. I'm fed up, and my heart is sad from all this shooting."
The mayor condemned the shootings and outlined actions being taken after meeting with the commissioner.
They include more foot patrols, a focus on repeat offenders, and new Western District leader.
"We can't tolerate this. Not on any level, this level of violence," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
The commissioner has said officers faced challenges in the western district, often being surrounded when responding to calls--all of this since the death of Freddie Gray.
The number of arrests is way down this may compared to last, yet police brass contend they're not backing off.
And in a new letter addressing challenges, point out their focus will remain in the western district, where three more people were shot overnight.
"It's absolutely egregious that we've passed the 100 mark for homicides in the City of Baltimore," said Jamal Bryant.
The number of homicides is 35 so far this month. That beat the previous record in December 1999.
There have been 108 homicides so far this year as compared to 75 last year around this time.
Baltimore police also report a total of 205 non-fatal shootings so far this year, compared to 115 last year.