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Crime & Justiceby Fern Shen2:44 pmJun 8, 20150

From Baltimore’s “cop shop,” emails about the weekend’s bloodshed

Sobering stack of reports about the shootings and killings over less than three days

Above: Col. Garnell Green briefs the media on the officer-involved shooting yesterday in Northwest Baltimore.

After another bloody weekend in Baltimore, media outlets’ in-boxes are crammed with emails from the Police Department bluntly headlined:

“Non-fatal shooting”

“Homicide”

“Police-involved shooting”

The sobering stack of communiques from BPD’s Media Relations suggests that the surge in violence this spring – that started before the Freddie Gray-related riot in April, then accelerated into a record-setting 42 homicides in May – is continuing at much the same pace.

Between Saturday morning and noon today, police reported six homicides and nine non-fatal shootings. They included an armed man shot in the face by a police officer and two boys, ages 8 and 10, who had been shot by someone in the back.

One particularly nasty case was that of a woman, later identified as a 16-year-old, found dead in a burning house in Northeast Baltimore.

Tragedy and Irony

Learning about the carnage from a computer screen – amid

Facebook feed items and pitches for farmer’s markets and wine tasting invites – is surreal and especially sad.

The terse police headings give little clue about the appalling details.

“Serious crash involving a pedestrian” turns out to be a five-year-old boy struck by a dirt bike.

“Non-fatal shooting” on Cherry Hill Road turns out to be that of a 13-year-old boy with a gunshot wound in his side.

There was bitter irony as well as tragedy. Both the shooting of the 13-year-old and the dirt bike crash took place in Cherry Hill, where Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and community leaders recently celebrated a year with no homicides.

Reprinted here, slightly reformatted for readability, are the weekend emails in their peculiar police nomenclature:
___________________________________

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Non-fatal shooting, Carrollton Ridge
11:42 a.m.

This morning officers were called to the 2000 block of West Pratt St. for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived they found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his arm and foot. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Investigators believe the victim was inside a carry-out/restaurant when he was shot by an unknown suspect. The suspect then left the scene after shooting the victim. A suspect description and motive is not available at this time. Southern District detectives are asking anyone with information to call 410-396-2499.

Homicide, Upton
1:23 p.m.

This afternoon officers were called to a residence in the 500 block of Dolphin Street for report of a person not breathing. When officers arrived they found a 38-year-old man inside of the location with trauma to his body. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. Homicide detectives are investigating this incident and ask anyone with information to call 410-396-2100. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Serious crash involving a pedestrian, Cherry Hill
[Boy hit by a dirt bike]
8:31 p.m.

This evening officers were called to the 3400 block of Round Road for a report of a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived they found a 5-year old male who had been struck by a dirt bike. The child was transported to an area hospital where he is currently listed in critical, but stable condition. The operator of the dirt bike did not remain at the scene. Investigators believe that prior to the dirt bike striking the child, several dirt bikes were riding in the Cherry Hill community. Detectives from our CRASH team are asking any witnesses or anyone who may have any information about this incident to call 410-396-2606.

Non-fatal shooting, Darley Park
[Two boys shot]
10:41 p.m.

Officers were called to the 1600 block of Cliftview Avenue for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived they found two shooting victims. The first victim is an eight-year-old male who was shot in the back. The second victim is a 10-year-old male who was also shot in the back. Both victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment and are expected to survive. Investigators believe the two victims were outside when at least one unknown suspect entered the block and began to shoot. Both of the victims were struck and the suspect fled from the location. Eastern District Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 410-396-2433.
____________________________________

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Non-fatal shooting, Brooklyn
12:43 a.m.

This morning officers were called to an area hospital for a report of a walk-in shooting victim. When officers arrived they found a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The victim told investigators he was walking in the 3900 block of 2nd Street when he heard gunshots and realized he had been shot. The victim then went to the hospital to seek treatment. Detectives from the Southern District are investigating this incident and ask anyone with information to call 410-396-2499.

Homicide, Park Heights
4:53 a.m.

This morning officers were called to the 5200 block of Park Heights Avenue for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived they found a 22-year old man shot multiple times. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. Investigators believe the victim was walking on a parking lot when he was approached by an unknown suspect and shot multiple times. The suspect then ran from the location. Homicide detectives are investigating this incident and asking anyone with information to call 410-396-2100.

Non-fatal shooting, Carrollton Ridge
5:37 a.m.

This morning officers were called to the 2400 block of Frederick Avenue for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived they found a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his elbow. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Detectives from the southwest district are investigating this incident and ask anyone with information to call 410-396-2488.

Homicide, Rosemont East
6:35 a.m.

This morning police officers and firefighters were called to the 6100 block of Eastern Parkway for a report of a house fire. While extinguishing the fire, firefighters found the body of a female inside of the location. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. Investigators believe the female was killed and then the house was intentionally set on fire. Homicide detectives along with investigators from our arson unit remain on the scene investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 410-396-2100.

Officer-involved shooting, Woodmere
9:56 a.m.

This morning officers were investigating a car accident at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Belvedere Avenue when they were approached by a citizen who gave them information about a man armed with a gun. Officers observed the suspect and began to chase him on foot. The suspect ran into a private business, which is a garage located in the 5200 block of Eleanora Avenue. After the suspect ran into the garage, two civilians ran out of the garage. Officers made contact with the suspect and shots were fired. The suspect was shot at least one time and transported to an area hospital for treatment. At last check, the suspect was listed in critical, but stable condition. No officers were injured during this incident. A handgun was recovered at the scene. Detectives from our Force Investigation Team remain on the scene investigating this incident.

Homicide, Westport
4:50 p.m.

This afternoon officers were called to the intersection of Annapolis Road and Kent Street for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived they found a 21-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries. Homicide detectives are now investigating this incident and ask anyone with information to call 410-396-2100. A suspect description and motive are not available at this time.

Non-fatal shooting, Cherry Hill
5:48 p.m.

This evening officers were called to an area hospital for a report of a walk-in shooting victim. When officers arrived they found a 13-year-old male being treated by the hospital staff for a gunshot wound to the side of his body. The victim told investigators he was on Cherry Hill Road when he was shot. Investigators were able to locate evidence of a crime scene in the 200 block of Cherry Hill Rd. The victim is currently being treated at the hospital and is expected to survive. Detectives from the Southern District are investigating this incident and ask anyone with information to call 410-396-2499. A suspect description and motive are not available at this time.

_______________________________________

MONDAY MORNING JUNE 8

Homicide, Biddle Street/Berea
12:07 a.m.

At approximately 12:07 a.m., officers of the Baltimore City School Police observed an adult male lying in the street in the 1100 block of Edison Hwy. Believing that the victim had been struck by a vehicle they called for medical assistance. It was then discovered that the victim had been shot. The victim was transported to an area hospital where despite all medical lifesaving efforts, the victim died due to his injuries. Homicide detectives are investigating and ask that anyone with information please contact 410-396-2100.

Homicide, Curtis Bay
4:46 a.m.

At approximately 4:45 a.m., officers responded to the 4300 block of West Bay Ave for a report of a man lying in the street. Upon arrival they found an adult male lying in the street. Medical assistance was immediately called. Despite all lifesaving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has not been positively identified at this point, nor has cause of death been determined. Homicide Detectives are investigating and ask that anyone with information please contact them at 410-396-2100.

Non-fatal double shooting, Old Town
11:08 a.m.

At approximately 11:08 a.m., officers responded to the 600 block of Aisquith St for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located two adult male victims. The first victim was suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the chest. The second victim was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. Both victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Eastern District detectives are investigating and ask that anyone with information please call 410-396-2433.

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