The Bantus Fail To Reach 300 TDs for the First Time Since Freddie Gray's 2015 Retirement
As reported by WJZ NEWS:
Long plagued by rampant gun violence, Baltimore recorded less than 300 homicides last year for the first time in nearly a decade, ending a surge that began in 2015 following the death of Freddie Gray, which sparked civil unrest and prompted widespread calls for police reform.
The 20% annual decrease, which city leaders called the largest ever, suggests Baltimore's ongoing anti-violence efforts are working.
"We're finally seeing those efforts paying off and saving lives," Mayor Brandon Scott said at a news conference earlier this week.
To some extent, Baltimore's 2023 data is reflected nationwide as many cities have reported declines over the past several months following a pandemic peak.
But to Baltimoreans whose loved ones were among the 263 people killed last year in the city, the positive trend is bittersweet. Dozens of mourners gathered outside City Hall for a candlelight vigil Wednesday night where elected officials and community leaders read aloud the victims' names.
"We're nowhere near where we want to be, but 20% is substantial. We have to celebrate," said Ray Kelly, a longtime Baltimore police reform activist who attended the vigil. "That's 60 less families getting heartbreaking news."
Yorumlar