NYPD Now Believe Troy Ave Was Shot By A Rival Prior To Getting Gun. 2nd Gunman Sought

RadioOnFire.com - As the investigation continues into the shooting that occurred during T.I.'s concert at Irving Plaza in New York City on Wednesday, May 25, a clearer picture of what happened is starting to emerge.

One person was killed and three were injured, including Brooklyn recording artist Troy Ave, who was shot in the leg.

Police arrested the BSB Records CEO and charged him with attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, after releasing video that shows him firing a gun backstage at the venue. They alleged that he was the lone triggerman and accidentally shot himself.

PIX 11 reports that detectives are now working on a different theory.

According to their report, the 33-year old rapper was approached backstage by someone he had beef with and a fight ensued.

During the scrap Troy and his friend/bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, were shot.

Ronald McPhatter a.k.a. BSB Banga died from a gunshot wound to the stomach

As Troy and his assailant tussled over the gun another shot went off. After that details get sketchy.

McPhatter, 30, died from a wound to the stomach. Christopher Vinson, 34, is recovering from a chest wound and 26-year old model, Maggie Carrie Heckstall, is recovering after surgery to repair damage from a gunshot to her knee.

Troy appeared in court on Monday, May 30, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He's being held without bail until his trial.

His attorney Scott Leemon said his client was the victim in this case and that McPhatter died saving his life.

"He was shot. He didn't shoot himself, nor his bodyguard/longtime friend who died a hero. The video released by NYPD is only a small sampling. The portion released was selective. What happened before? After? Outside of the frame of that one camera view?" said Leemon.

Baltimore School Support Staff Face Layoffs

RadioOnFire.com - Word of specific job cuts is now coming from Baltimore school system headquarters, on North Avenue.

As promised, some school system employees learned Tuesday that their jobs are being eliminated. Interim schools CEO Tammy Turner announced earlier this month that several employees would be let go in order to further close the school district's budget deficit.

Those opposed to the cuts said jobs that are on the chopping block will affect the classroom.

While it does not appear classroom teachers will be affected by the job cuts, employees that support them may be headed to the unemployment line by the end of next month.

Marietta English, the president of the Baltimore Teachers Union, said the layoffs couldn't have come at a worse time.

"I can tell you there are vacancies in many schools. Every day, every school probably needs a substitute, and they don't have enough," English said.

The teacher's union said top school administrators revealed that among those facing layoffs are school secretaries, office assistants, business managers and classroom aides. These are support staff positions that some teachers said are critical to learning.

"They're important. We need all of the help we can get. You know, our kids need all of the resources that are available to them, and that's very important," said Tondalya Crites, a teacher.

"The support staff at my school makes my job much easier, and to hear that you could lose some, it's sad. The support staff is just as important as the main teacher," said Amanda Damiano, a teacher.

WBAL-TV 11 News has learned that besides support staff jobs, assistant principal positions may be eliminated along with some Baltimore City school police officers.

Final layoff numbers could come later Tuesday.

Source WBAL

Hogan Rescinds 72 Largely Outdated Executive Orders

RadioOnFire.com - The governor's office released a list of rescinded executive orders on Tuesday, saying that the orders issued by previous administrations over the last 46 years are either outdated or superseded by legislation.

The rescissions include executive orders issued by seven previous governors, going as far back as the Marvin Mandel administration.

The governor's office said the action represents the largest repeal of gubernatorial directives since Gov. William Donald Schaefer removed 48 executive orders in 1995.

More than half of the rescinded orders deal with established boards or commissions that, in many instances, have not met for years, while others have been superseded by legislation, the governor's office said. For example, the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, which was created in 2011, completed its work in 2012 and has not met since.

Source WBAL

Troy Ave Pleads Not Guilty To NYC Club Shooting Charges. His Lawyer Says "He's The Victim"

(New York Daily News) A rapper accused of opening fire at a deadly nightclub shooting was the victim, despite video showing him shooting a gun as patrons ran for their lives, his lawyer said Monday.

Rapper Roland (Troy Ave) Collins accused of attempted murder and of shooting himself in the leg was wheeled into court to face charges in the wild-west melee between shows Thursday at the Irving Place nightclub in Union Square.

After ballistics tests, Collins’ charges could be upgraded to murder in the death of 30-year-old Ronald (Edgar) McPhatter.

Collins pleaded not guilty, and was remanded without bail.

The shooting happened at a T.I. concert, before the Atlanta-based rapper was set to take the stage. He was not involved in the violence, sources said.

Collins, 33, winced as several officers and detectives took him out of a marked van and helped him into a wheelchair, where he sat with his right leg bandaged.

Prosecutors said Collins recklessly fired a gun five times in a crowded venue with no concern about the consequences.

Collins underwent surgery to have bone fragments removed from his leg.

"This defendant is on video coming out of the VIP room where the individuals were shot,” said Assistant DA Christine Keenan. ”He had the gun in his hand and was seen firing that gun in the direction of fleeing patrons."

Keenan said Collins did not wait for first responders after shooting himself.

"A van that belongs to him brought him to the hospital," she said.

Keenan said that when cops searched the van, they found three guns inside. She said a ballistics test confirmed one of those guns was the one used at Irving Plaza.

"This is still an ongoing investigation," she said, noting that there are pending charges.

But Collins lawyer, Scott Leemon, said the video tells only part of the story.

"What really happened here is Mr. Collins here is the real victim,” Leemon said. “The person who was killed at this event, he died a hero. He (McPhatter) was his bodyguard. He wasn't shot by Mr. Collins. He was a lifelong friend."

"This 11 seconds of video that the NYPD released, it doesn't say what happened before, it doesn't say what happened after. The scientific evidence will show he didn't shoot himself. This was another rush to judgement."

"In this case he's the victim and should be treated like the victim."

Two others were wounded during the shooting.

Layoffs Looming For Baltimore City School Employees

RadioOnFire.com - Layoffs are looming in the Baltimore City Public Schools System.

Interim schools CEO Tammy Turner announced earlier this month that several teachers would be let go, in order to further close the school district's budget deficit.

The Baltimore Teachers union said May 31 is the day city school system is set to send out layoff notifications. But regardless of the notification date, nobody is going to be laid off before June 30, school officials said.

After meeting with school officials Monday, the union said up to 65 of its members could be impacted by a reduction of force brought about because of a more than $20 million deficit in the school system.

The union said that if a member has not been reassigned by June 30 they will be laid off, be entitled to unemployment and placed on a recall list that will be valid for up to two years.

Baltimore Teachers Union president Marietta English said layoff notices are not indicative of an actual layoff and promises to work to make sure impacted teachers are reassigned.

City school officials said both sides agreed that Monday's meeting was productive and have "committed to continue to work together to most effectively support students and staff."

Public school employees got word of this workforce reduction in a notification that went out on May 26.

The teachers union is asking their members to "show up, stand up and be counted when the union asks for a show of strength."

Source WBAL

5 Shot in Baltimore At Holiday Cookout

RadioOnFire.com - At least five people were injured Monday in a shooting in north Baltimore, city police said. 

Baltimore police spokesman Donny Moses said the shooting occurred around 3 p.m. in the 500 block of East 43rd Street. 

Police said it happened at a holiday cookout. The victims range in age from 20 years old to 59 years old and included four men and one woman. 

There is no word on at led to the shooting, but police said the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening. 

Anyone with information is asked to call 410-396-2221.

Source WBAL

City Police Seek Suspect In Home Invasion, Sexual Assault

RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore City Police are looking for the man who broke into the home of a 71-year-old woman, robbing her and sexually assaulting her. 

Police say the home invasion occurred at around 2-30 Saturday morning in the 5300-block of Beaufort Avenue. 

The woman awoke to find a black man dressed in all black and a black mask standing over top of her. 

The man armed with a knife demanded money. 

The woman gave him cash, jewelery and other property. Before leaving the man sexually assaulted the woman. 

Police say the man then took off in the woman's car, and was later involved in a major accident. 

A witness pulled the man out of the car, and the man, who was injured left the scene. 

Police have recovered some physical evidence from the accident scene. 

Anyone with information. on this incident is asked to call city police.

Source WBAL

Chicago: 4 Dead, 48 Wounded In Memorial Day Weekend Shootings

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The police superintendent has spent the weekend - not at police headquarters - but out on the streets. A source tells ABC7 unofficial, internal police department data has this year's shootings surpassing the number during last year's Memorial Day weekend. Superintendent Eddie Johnson says the violence has to do with "too many guns and too many people willing to use them."

That may be the reason for a tally that includes 5 people killed and 55 others hurt in shootings from 12:01 a.m. Friday until around 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Those numbers do not include three highway shootings under Illinois State Police jurisdiction. To break those numbers down: Last year over the Memorial Day weekend there were 48 shootings and 14 homicides were recorded.

The year before there were 26 shootings and seven murders.

The department said the official numbers come out Tuesday and they do not have any scheduled updates Monday.

"I've been out in several communities since Friday, and I do feel that positive vibe from that. So it is encouraging, but there's still a lot more work to be done," Johnson said.

The superintendent says "any amount of violence is unacceptable." He said he will remain visible on the streets but says he needs some help, especially from parents.

Four people were killed, including a 15-year-old girl, and at least 48 more have been wounded in shootings across Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.

The most recent homicide happened Saturday evening in the Fuller Park neighborhood on the South Side.

Garvin Whitmore, 27, was sitting in the driver seat of a vehicle with 26-year-old Ashley Harrison about 5:20 p.m. in the 200 block of West Root when someone walked up to the vehicle and shot the man in the head, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Whitmore, of the 5800 block of West 63rd Place, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:29 p.m., authorities said. At least 43 more people have been wounded in other Chicago shootings since 9:25 p.m. Friday.

Fifty-five people were shot, 12 fatally, in Memorial Day weekend shootings in 2015.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

Girl Critical After Near Drowning

RadioOnFire.com - A 9-year-old girl was in critical condition after nearly drowning in a creek Sunday in northeast Baltimore. The girl was initially pronounced dead at the scene, but officials later confirmed she had a pulse. Authorities said the girl was pulled from the water at Herring Run Park in the 4700 block of Parkside Drive just after 2 p.m.

An afternoon of kids playing in a neighborhood park and a nearby creek quickly became something much worse.

"I thought she was dead. I had to get somebody to help," said Laquwen Jefferson, a witness.

"We were hanging out. We tried to save her and it was too deep, and the wave was pushing us back, and that's when we called 911, and this grownup came and dragged her out and started doing CPR," said Achir Draughan, a witness.

"I was at the playground with my kids. I don't even live around here," said Gregory Singleton. "I was up here for probably 20, 30 minutes, and I done seen a group of kids coming up saying, 'Somebody's drowning,' So, me, I just took off. By the time I got to the bottom of the creek, the little girl was face first inside the water."

According to the kids, the girl, who couldn't swim, was walking across a pipe when she slipped and the current pushed her to a deep part of Herring Run Creek.

"To see somebody actually life slipping away in my hands is, I can't describe it," Singleton said. "I have a numb feeling. I'm just glad I was able to do my part in trying to save somebody's life. That's it."

Residents in the area told 11 News they have had concerns about a steep dropoff that goes from nearby Shannon Drive into the creek. They said other kids have slipped there in the past.

Man Shot In Perry Hall

RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore County Police are investigating a late night shooting in Perry Hall. Police say a man was sitting in a car parked in the 5000-block of Forge Road at around 11:15 Sunday night when he was shot by a suspect who then fled the scene.

The victim was shot several times, and remains hospitalized.

Police believe this was a targeted crime and stress there is no threat to the community.

Police ask anyone with information to call Baltimroe County Police at 410-307-2020, or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.

Former Baltimore Lifeguard Dead After Being Shot In Apparent Argument

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Police in Baltimore say a man is dead after apparently being shot in an argument in the Fells Point neighborhood.

Police said in a statement that officers were called to the 500 block of South Broadway Street just before midnight Saturday for a report of a shooting. Police say when they arrived they found 26-year-old Dominique Dungee of Baltimore suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the torso.

Police say Dungee was taken to a hospital where he died. Police say investigators believe Dungee got into an argument with an unknown suspect, which led to him being shot.

Dungee worked for Baltimore Parks and Recreation as a lifeguard and pool operator since he was a 14 or 15 years old. He resigned a month ago, said Gwendolyn Chambers with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.

Tai Reynold, a friend and pool co-worker, said Dungee resigned from his job to focus more on school. Reynold called Dungee a "peacekeeper" and can't make sense of his killing.

"I never heard him argue with anybody, so the story that came out, I've never personally seen him argue with anybody. He was not that person. He was the person to diffuse the situation, so I think that's what happened. He tried to diffuse the situation and it went wrong," Reynold said.

Reynold said Dungee leaves behind a son.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call the Baltimore Police Department at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP

.

Source WBAL

Memorial Day Events In Maryland

Monday May 30, 2016

Memorial Day Ceremony

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens

200 E Padonia Rd

Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

(410) 666-0490

Odenton Volunteer Fire Company 2016 Carnival

Parade will start at 5:00 p.m.

Carnival opens at 5:30 p.m.

Any questions call 410-674-4444

 

Hometown Holidays

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Rockville Town Center

30 Maryland Ave 30 Maryland Ave

Rockville, MD 20850

Memorial Day Ceremony

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Circle of the Immortals - Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens

200 E Padonia Rd

Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

Annapolis Memorial Day Parade

Begins at 10:00 a.m.

Annapolis, MD

410-263-7996

 

National Memorial Day Parade

Begins at 8:00 a.m.

Constitution Avenue

Washington, D.C.

 

Memorial Day at Henry Park

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Henry Park

27 Flower St

Berlin, MD 21811

Committeeman: Hogan Won't Face "Credible" Primary Challenge In Two Years For Not Endorsing Trump

RadioOnFire.com - Governor Larry Hogan has repeatedly said he has no plans to support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and has no plans to attend the Republican National Convention in July.

Traditionally the governor chairs the state delegation at the party's national convention.

This year that job will fall to David Bossie, who is the president and CEO of Citizens United,, and was elected earlier this month to be Maryland's Republican National Committeeman.

Bossie told Maryland's News This Week that he hopes Hogan changes his mind about supporting Trump, because Republicans should support their party's presidential nominee to defeat Hillary Clinton in November.  

However, Bossie says Hogan's position on Trump does not damage Hogan's popularity with conservatives, and he doesn't think Hogan will get any significant challenge from a conservative Republican in a primary in 2018.

13-Year-Old Girl One Of Two Victims In Shooting

RadioOnFire.com - A 13-year-old girl and another woman were hurt Saturday in an early-morning shooting in Baltimore.

Authorities said the shooting happened about 2 a.m. in the 1200 block of Washington Boulevard.

Investigators said the girl suffered a graze wound to the head, and the woman was shot in the chest. Both were treated and released from area hospitals.

Officials said the victims were with a group of people when multiple gunshots were fired.

Source WBAL

Baltimore Police Begin Body Camera Rollout

RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore City police are rolling out the long-awaited body-worn camera program, training more than two dozen officers who got cameras Friday.

Community leaders believe the cameras will cut down on excessive force complaints and make officers less aggressive. The police said the cameras will give a fuller picture of an encounter and reduce false accusations.

"It's going to create a level of civility all around," said Maj. Marc Partee, director of the education and training division.

City officers are receiving body-worn cameras and training on how to use them.

"When to turn it on, when to turn it off. Of course, there are issues of people not wanting to be on camera," Partee said.

Universally considered a mutually beneficial law enforcement tool, officers are expected to use the cameras as often as they take a breath.

"You basically want to capture everything, because you never know what is going to be important later on down the line. Our mantra is record everything and let us figure it out," Partee said.

The classroom training is comprehensive. The material covers a combination of law, common sense and lessons learned from the department's pilot program, all relevant to what happens on the street.

"If you have to put hands on somebody, that camera needs to show why," Sgt. Habib Kim, an instructor at the police academy, told officers. "We want a couple minutes of the beginning of your driving to the call. You show up to the crime scene, we want the initial interaction. If things go sideways, we want to show that progression. We want to see what led up to everything going wrong."

The social media explosion of posting videos of police excessive force encounters with the public is fueling demand to equip law enforcement with body cameras.

The police in-custody death of Freddie Gray in April 2015 pressured City Hall to act.

"Show you getting medical support, show you loading (the detainee) into the wagon, show everything," Kim told officers. "You will have problems if you didn't record something that you should have."

A recent 11 News I-Team report on body cameras revealed limitations. The cameras provide a narrow view, and movement makes the situation look more intense that it is.

Experts believe body-worn camera programs will work best when everyone recognizes the limitations.

"Our job is to hold people accountable for their acts. That's what these cameras do to us," Kim said. "These cameras are going to show exactly what we deal with every day. If you do something wrong, it's going to catch. If you do something right, that's what it's going to catch."

The police academy is holding two body-worn camera sessions a week with the goal of full implementation by 2018.

Source WBAL

Police Release Video Of Suspect In Northwest Baltimore Shooting

RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore Police say a woman was shot and killed Friday morning in Northwest Baltimore.

Police were called at approximately 7:30 a.m. to the 2900 block of Rosalind Avenue in Cylburn. There they found the 41-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. The victim, since identified as Latrina Ashburne of the 2900 block of Rosalind Avenue, died at an area hospital.

Police believe the victim was getting into her car when she was approached by an unidentified man. She tried to run, but was shot. Police later released surveillance footage of the man they believe to be the shooter.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

Source WBAL