Baltimore student killed, four others injured in shooting at Edmondson Village Shopping Center
BALTIMORE - A Baltimore City Public Schools student was killed and four others were injured when two suspects opened fire in the parking lot of the Edmondson Village Shopping Center Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The students attend Edmondson Westside High School, which is across the street from where the shooting took place.
"There is nothing good about another afternoon where a young life in our City is now lost over nothing, over nonsense, over stupidity," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "What we should be asking is that everyone prays for that family, for the victims' families, for the other young men fighting for their lives."
In the hours following the shooting, school officials at Edmondson-Westside High School canceled classes for Thursday.
Teachers would still be required to report to work by 9 a.m. though, school officials said.
School district officials said the high school was on lockdown status following the shooting, but students were dismissed at the normal time. All after-school activities and sports activities at Edmondson Westside were canceled.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the students were in front of the Ritas and Popeyes when two suspects fired multiple rounds, and then took off behind the building.
Police don't currently have a description of the suspected shooters and are looking for witnesses to come forward while investigators review surveillance video.
As officers responded, a 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old were found with gunshot wounds. The 16-year-old died at the hospital, according to police.
"We have a very tragic incident, five people were shot, one who lost his life, over foolishness and nonsense, and this did not have to happen," Harrison said. "We talk about the prevalence of guns. We talk about the willingness to use them, and now we are talking about individuals who are youthful and young being involved in either being a victim of a shooting or pulling that trigger."
Police said the students left school during lunchtime when they were shot.
Harrison said police have encouraged businesses to not serve students during the school day.
"When can talk with the store owners and managers of the store to make sure they are abiding by what we think needs to happen, by making sure the students of the school are not supposed to be over here and not serving them," Harrison said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said one of his primary initiatives was for the city to invest in the Edmondson Village Shopping Center, which has been a hotspot for crime.
Scott said the main issue is the owner of the shopping center "seems to not care" about investing in the property.
"As long as I have been alive, the Edmondson Village Shopping Center has been a hotspot," Scott said. "When you have ownership that cares and invests, this is what we are talking about. This community deserves better than this. It deserves better than a shopping center that seems to not care about it from an investment standpoint."
Scott also said the Popeyes in the Edmondson Village Shopping Center has been cited before for selling to students and minors during the school day.
After police addressed the shooting, community members argued with Councilman Kristerfer Burnett, angry that nothing is being done about the crime at the shopping center.
School officials say that students and staff may go to the school for counseling and support on Thursday. Services will be offered in the library, auditorium, wellness room, guidance suite and the Westside Skill Center Guidance Suite starting at 11:30 a.m., school officials said.
Students who would like to stop by the school for a meal will be served at 11:30 a.m. too, according to school officials.
"This tragedy is likely to raise many emotions for our students and staff members, and we are here to help. Counselors from City Schools were at the school today to provide counseling and support to students and staff members," school officials said in the statement. "Our counselors, social workers, psychologists, and district staff will continue to support the Edmondson-Westside community during this difficult time."
