BALTIMORE — Seven people were shot in an officer involved shooting in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Northwest Baltimore.
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the officer was walking on patrol when he saw the violent eruption.
The officer engaged and discharged his weapon at the suspect. At this time, it is unclear as to whether or not the suspect was struck.
In all, seven victims, one 37 year-old woman and six males, ages 17,20,20,20,23, and 24, sustained gunshot wounds and are currently in stable condition at area hospitals.
“He observed what he believed is a subject firing an automatic group of individuals near that intersection,”. Harrison said. “The officer immediately engaged that subject and discharged his weapon.”
Dozens of evidence markers and shell casings littered the sidewalk in the 1500 block of Eutaw Place.
“Rounding off big bullets, big type of guns. Where do we get those type of guns from,” Christina Flowers said. “Mac -10’s where we get those type of guns from?”
DeAndre McDowell said he heard at least 30 shots.
People were running this way running that way, McDowell said. “One gentlemen got hit he was laid out in the parking lot over there. “
Harrison said they don’t know if the officer shot anyone.
Detectives have learned the suspect exited the passenger side on a light colored, older model Honda and was armed with a rifle styled firearm.
The suspect opened fire on the crowd then retreated into the Honda to flee the scene when he was confronted by the patrol officer who was on regular patrol in a micro-zone area.
That vehicle sped away and was last seen traveling Northbound in the 1600 block of McCulloh Street.
The officer, although slightly injured, attempted to follow the Honda but returned to the scene to assist the individuals who were shot.
“We got to really stick together in times like this as a people, deal with trauma everyday,” Flowers said. “Corona is just addition to the trauma we already experiencing.”
Jay Thomas said an officer who lives in his building, jumped into action and helped find one of the victims.
“He went to the senior center next door,” said Thomas. “Somebody’s walker got hit and they got grazed so he said I potentially saved somebody.”
The officer is going under standard internal investigation because it is an officer involved shooting
Another thing of note there is a housing complex that was shut down for hours and many people were getting upset they couldn’t get inside.
Central District shooting detectives as well as members of the Special Investigation Response Team are investigating this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call detectives at (410) 396-2411, (410) 396-2300, or call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7lockup.
