Posted on 07/03/23
| News Source: Pikesville Patch
The FBI is offering a reward of $28,000 for information leading to an arrest after two people were shot to death and 28 more injured at a South Baltimore block party Sunday, the agency said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Police are searching for suspects in the shooting, which took place just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the Brooklyn Homes area, according to Richard Worley, Baltimore's acting police commissioner. Worley said it wasn't clear if the shooting was targeted or random.
Baltimore police are investigating why authorities were not posted at the "Brooklyn Day" party, which is held annually and normally has a police presence, officials said at a Sunday afternoon news conference streamed by CBS News Baltimore.
"That's what we're trying to investigate," Worley said during the conference. "This was an unpermitted event, so our job now is to figure out when we figured out that this was occurring and what our officers did. If we made mistakes we'll fix them and move forward so that this does not happen ever again."
The victims of the shooting ranged in age from 13 to 32-years-old, and 15 of them were minors, police said.
Aaliyah Gonzalez, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene and Kylis Fagbemi, 20, died at a hospital, according to police, who said three others were in critical condition.
As of Sunday afternoon, nine people remain hospitalized, police said.
CBS News Baltimore obtained surveillance video showing the incident unfolding.
"This was a reckless, cowardly act of violence that has taken two lives and altered many, many more," Baltimore's mayor Brandon Scott said at the news conference. "We will find those who are responsible and we will not stop until we do so."
Scott added that "this tragic incident is another glaring, unfortunate example of the deep issue of violence of Baltimore, Maryland, and this country, particularly gun violence and the access to illegal guns."
According to Scott, this year alone, the Baltimore Police Department has seized 1,345 illegal guns.
"We will continue to hold those individuals who carry those weapons—who use those weapons in acts of violence like this one that we saw today—accountable, but we need accountability at every level," Scott added.
The attack in Baltimore occurred as federal prosecutors there this week touted their efforts to reduce violent crime in the city. Police have reported nearly 130 homicides and close to 300 shootings so far this year, though that's down from the same time last year. Authorities have vowed to crack down aggressively on repeat violent offenders.
A police union official said in an email Sunday there were no officers specifically assigned to the gathering.
"There were only three officers assigned to the Brooklyn area of Baltimore City's Southern District," said Mike Mancuso, president of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3. "This is a large area, and to police it safely and effectively you need about seven to eight officers per shift."
Mancuso said about 2,800 officers are needed to effectively police the city, but staffing is down to about 2,100.
Anyone with information is urged to contact homicide detectives at 410-396-2100. To remain anonymous, use the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-756-2587 or text tips through the Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland website.