'It is time for a change': Families of murdered Baltimore victims call on city to take action
BALTIMORE -- Families of two Baltimore murder victims are calling for city and state officials to do a better job at keeping the public safe.
They're upset at a lack of arrests and want the city to padlock a gas station they say has become a haven for crime.
This comes after a hearing was postponed for padlocking of the BP gas station on Havenwood Road where 56-year-old Albert Stevenson was shot and killed last month.
Jamar Day, Stevenson's nephew, said they were supposed to meet with Police Commissioner Michael Harrison at Police Headquarters Wednesday morning about the closing of the gas station, but that meeting was called off without them being notified.
"We cannot postpone anything when it comes to crime in Baltimore City," Day said. "Baltimore City continues to play games with its residents, continues to play games with people's lives, Black lives at that. It is time for a change."
Day put together a rally last weekend in front of the business, calling for it to be shut down.
No arrests have been made in Stevenson's murder yet.
As police search for the killers, his family will continue to fight to get the gas station shut down.
There is a scheduled public safety hearing for Wednesday afternoon.
The family of 16-year-old Deanta Dorsey was planning to protest the meeting.
Dorsey, a student at Edmondson-Westside High School, was gunned down at the Edmondson Village Shopping Center earlier this month.
"I want my voice to be heard. I cannot rest," said Donna Ashe-Spriggs, Dorsey's grandmother. "Over 300 people are being killed every year, year-in and year-out. Something has to be done."
Dorsey was one of five teens shot during lunch break. He was taken to the hospital where he died.
"When is this going to stop," Ashe-Spriggs said. "If they have to shut the city down then shut the freaking city down. If Deanta Dorsey's name is to be the poster child for change, then it will be."
Police released surveillance photos of the suspected shooters, but no arrests have been made.
Police announced an $8,000 reward in the case.
"Children are killing children," Ashe-Spriggs said. "My grandson's blood is on the streets of Baltimore City and I will not rest until justice is done for Deanta Dorsey, and every child that has been murdered in the city."
In 2022, Baltimore City had 333 homicides.
Already this year, there are 20 through the end of January.
The families are calling on police, city officials and state officials to provide justice.
"Gov. Wes, please help us. Do something in Baltimore City. Mayor Scott, I don't know what you are doing but you are not doing your job. This has to stop," Ashe-Spriggs said. What are you doing to capture these killers? What is the Baltimore City Police Department, detectives doing to capture these killers, these murders. I will not rest until justice is done."
