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Baltimore shootings: weekend violence kills two amid record-setting report Baltimore shootings: weekend violence kills two amid record-setting report
(35 minutes later)
Fresh off its deadliest month in 43 years, Baltimore saw 11 people shot – and two of them killed – in the first two days of August.Fresh off its deadliest month in 43 years, Baltimore saw 11 people shot – and two of them killed – in the first two days of August.
Related: Baltimore's July homicide rate was higher than in any month since 1972Related: Baltimore's July homicide rate was higher than in any month since 1972
The latest incident occurred early on Sunday in north-west Baltimore, acting police commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference held to announce the creation of a multi-agency task force to deal with homicides plaguing the city.The latest incident occurred early on Sunday in north-west Baltimore, acting police commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference held to announce the creation of a multi-agency task force to deal with homicides plaguing the city.
Davis said the Baltimore Federal Homicide Task Force, a new partnership between the police department and five federal law enforcement agencies, would go into effect Monday and operate for 60 days.Davis said the Baltimore Federal Homicide Task Force, a new partnership between the police department and five federal law enforcement agencies, would go into effect Monday and operate for 60 days.
The task force will include two agents each from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the US Marshals Service and the Secret Service, who will be embedded on the streets of Baltimore with the police department’s homicide unit.The task force will include two agents each from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the US Marshals Service and the Secret Service, who will be embedded on the streets of Baltimore with the police department’s homicide unit.
“Certainly the post-unrest period in Baltimore is something to be reckoned with,” Davis said on Sunday, referring to a period of civil unrest following the death of a young African American man, Freddie Gray, in police custody in April.“Certainly the post-unrest period in Baltimore is something to be reckoned with,” Davis said on Sunday, referring to a period of civil unrest following the death of a young African American man, Freddie Gray, in police custody in April.
“There are a number of different circumstances that are contributing to where we are now. But it all comes back to the gangs, the violent repeat offenders and the drug organisations.”“There are a number of different circumstances that are contributing to where we are now. But it all comes back to the gangs, the violent repeat offenders and the drug organisations.”
The latest shooting, Davis said, was a “retaliatory act of violence” in which seven people were shot.The latest shooting, Davis said, was a “retaliatory act of violence” in which seven people were shot.
He said one of the victims was a documented member of the Black Guerilla Family gang, and that two others had been victims of gang-related shootings in previous years.He said one of the victims was a documented member of the Black Guerilla Family gang, and that two others had been victims of gang-related shootings in previous years.
The weekend’s violence followed a disturbing surge in homicides in Baltimore over the past three months, reaching a high in July with 45 killings, the most the city has seen in a single month since 1972. The weekend’s violence followed a disturbing surge in homicides in Baltimore over the past three months, which reached a high in July with 45 killings, the most the city has seen in a single month since 1972.
The homicide rate in Baltimore began to skyrocket in May following the Freddie Gray riots, when the city saw 42 homicides in a single month. There was a brief dip in June, with 29 killings, however the number shot up again in July, breaking a 43-year record. The homicide rate in Baltimore began to skyrocket in May following the Freddie Gray riots, when the city saw 42 homicides in a single month. There was a brief dip in June, with 29 killings, but the number shot up again in July, breaking a 43-year record.
Davis said more people were arming themselves on the streets, and that the department had seized 20% more guns than it had by this time last year. Davis also said the influx of prescription pills – 32 pharmacies were looted during the 27 April riot and nearly 300,000 doses of prescription medication stolen – had contributed to Baltimore’s spiking violence.Davis said more people were arming themselves on the streets, and that the department had seized 20% more guns than it had by this time last year. Davis also said the influx of prescription pills – 32 pharmacies were looted during the 27 April riot and nearly 300,000 doses of prescription medication stolen – had contributed to Baltimore’s spiking violence.
As of Sunday, the department’s “clearance rate” for closing homicide cases was 36% – significantly lower than its 46% average.As of Sunday, the department’s “clearance rate” for closing homicide cases was 36% – significantly lower than its 46% average.
Davis said the increase in homicides was not unique to Baltimore: other cities across the country, such as St Louis, Chicago, New Orleans and Milwaukee, are also experiencing severe homicide spikes. Davis said he would join other police chiefs from across the country on Monday to discuss strategies to quell the violence. Davis said the increase in homicides was not unique to Baltimore: other cities across the country, including St Louis, Chicago, New Orleans and Milwaukee, are also experiencing severe homicide spikes. Davis said he would join other police chiefs from across the country on Monday to discuss strategies to quell the violence.
“We are not sitting still in Baltimore,” he said. “This is not something we’re satisfied with. We are punching back. And we will continue to punch back as collaboratively and creatively as we can until we can break through this.”“We are not sitting still in Baltimore,” he said. “This is not something we’re satisfied with. We are punching back. And we will continue to punch back as collaboratively and creatively as we can until we can break through this.”