Thursday was one of the most violent days of the year in Baltimore City.
There were eleven people shot and local boxer 33-year-old Ernest Hall was killed in a mass shooting along Edmonson Avenue.
Homicide numbers are down compared to this time last year and city and state leaders are touting success, but we took a closer look at the numbers and found it may be too soon to celebrate.
January of this year 26 people were killed on the streets of Baltimore. That’s ten less than January 2022, when 36 people were killed in what was the deadliest January ever.
The year prior 27 people were killed, almost the same as this year.
Last month 17 people were killed, one more than February 2022.
“The people we’ve talked to are also not agreeing with city leaders. They’re still afraid to leave their children. They’re afraid when their children walk out the door. They’re afraid to go to work because of the violence,” Yuripzy Morgan said.
In Annapolis with just two weeks left in the session, several major crime fighting bills are stuck in committee including attempts to make stealing a handgun a felony, increasing penalties for repeat violent offenders, and lengthening jail time for illegal gun possession.
Ivan Bates lobbied for a bill in Annapolis earlier this week and has been adamant about getting tough on crime.
“I’ve gone to too many funerals. I’ve watched too many people and young boys and young men and young kids and young ladies who look like me and you who are dying and losing their lives," he said.
Yuripzy Morgan spokesperson for the group PEACE worries Bates’ bill and the others that promise to crack down on criminals will stall, and the bloodshed in Baltimore will continue.
“I don’t see any indication that Ivan Bates bill is actually going to become law. What we would celebrate is if the leaders of Baltimore City and the legislature of Maryland which is democrat, has a veto proof majority, which means if they wanted to pass Ivan Bates Bill they could do that absolutely,” she said. “If they wanted to make stealing a gun a felony, or increase the penalty for using a gun in a crime they could do that, but they’re not doing those things.”