A Baltimore city council member said last weekend's deadly shooting happened in one of the largest open-air drug markets in the state.
Police have not said what the motive was in that deadly shooting but community leaders, including city councilman Eric Costello, who represents the area, believe drugs are a significant source of what's fueling the violence seen in Upton.
"Myself and other elected leaders have raised the alarm about that and we will continue to ask BPD to put the necessary resources in place," Costello said.
Former FBI agent Dr. Tyrone Powers said he believes there might not be a causal effect, but there is a relationship between the open air drug markets and crime.
"Obviously police need to, when they have the capability to, enforce and try to stop open air drug markets," Powers said. "Clearly you want to reduce the opportunity of open air drug markets, you want to send a message that crime is not acceptable, that you cannot participate in this behavior, and hopefully that would mitigate the likelihood of some violence."
Powers added there are other issues impacting violence, especially with kids contributing to the violence in the city, from education, to intervention and interception.