Deadly Stabbing Pushes Baltimore Homicide Count To 300: Police
BALTIMORE, MD — Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Baltimore has continued to experience hundreds of homicides.
“Unfortunately, Baltimore has reached the 300 homicide mark today for the 6th year in a row," Baltimore City Council President and Mayor-Elect Brandon M. Scott said in a statement on Monday, Nov. 23. "We cannot accept this loss of life as normal. It is not normal. These are not just numbers; they are residents who will no longer be able to spend the holidays with their families or reach their full potential in life."
The Baltimore Police Department reported there had been 299 homicides so far this year as of 6 a.m. Monday. Within two hours, another death was reported, pushing the death toll to 300.
Before 7:45 a.m., police said a 44-year-old man died in a stabbing at the hands of someone with "family ties," according to Detective James Moses.
Officers were called to the 3300 block of Burleith Avenue to investigate a stabbing at 7:44 a.m. and found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds, police said. The injured man was taken to Sinai Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him deceased, according to authorities.
A 39-year-old man was arrested "a short time later," Moses said in a statement at 11:10 a.m., noting detectives learned the suspect had "family ties" to the victim and had gotten into an altercation at the victim's home. Neither the suspect nor the victim was identified in the case.
Anyone with information may call detectives with the Baltimore Police Department at 410-396-2100. People who would like to remain anonymous can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
"We cannot accept that so many of our residents are faced with acts of violence in their neighborhoods. We have no choice but to build a safer city," Scott said in a statement.
Police said there had been 309 homicides and 702 nonfatal shootings as of Nov. 23, 2019. The city hit the milestone of 300 homicides by Nov. 14 last year, about 10 days earlier than this year.
As of Monday, police say there have been 702 nonfatal shootings in Baltimore so far this year. Including the stabbing, there have now been 300 homicides.
"In addition to the sheer magnitude of this loss of life, we cannot forget the families and communities left to deal with the trauma and pain," Scott said.
"Under my leadership, Baltimore will begin to treat violence like the public health issue it is," Scott said. "All city agencies — from the Health Department, Housing, and Employment Development to City Schools and Recreation and Parks — must work together and be engaged in the work of reimagining public safety in our city."
While law enforcement and city services were part of the solution to Baltimore's violence, Scott said that each person could contribute too.
"Every agency, every organization, and every resident has a role to play in building a safer city," Scott said. "The road to a safer Baltimore will not be easy and will not happen overnight. But working together, I know we can take the action required to save lives and build stronger, healthier communities.”
This article originally appeared on the Baltimore Patch
