BALTIMORE — Organizations in Baltimore and across the country are participating in a day of remembrance for those lost to homicides.
Friday marked National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. So far in Baltimore, police have reported 246 homicides in 2020.
This comes as Baltimore City Police investigate another double homicide on the city's west side were two men were shot and killed.
According to police officers responded to the 2300 block of Presbury Street just before 11:00 a.m., where officers found a 38-year-old male who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head and a second victim, a 19-year-old male who was found with gunshot wounds to his body. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting and traumatic experiences such the westside shooting is familiar to Annette Marsh-Grier, executive director of Roberta's House.
"We know that this problem can't be solved overnight, as far as the violence and the crime," said Marsh-Grier.
Roberta’s House along with Survivor Advocates like Zina L. Harris hopes to help families through the grieving and coping process.
"The role that I play in the puzzle is being here to be supportive and to let the survivors as well as their family know that they are not alone in this journey in my role is to help them to be able to cope on a daily basis," said Harris.
Roberta’s House along with the Black Mental Health Alliance hosted a virtual town hall meeting Friday evening called “Moving From Pain to Purpose: A Call to Action.” The event focuses on the impact murder has on families and neighborhoods, ways to support survivors and how to best stop violence in the community.
"It is so important that we acknowledge this day and respect those individuals who are victims of homicide. One reason because often times it goes unacknowledged and there are many people suffering," said Marsh-Grier.
The “Restoring the Vigil Project” will also honor murder victims during a virtual memorial ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday.
As for the double homicide on Presbury Street, detectives have no suspect information or motives.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call detectives at (410) 396-2100. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the Metro Crime Stopper hotline at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
