RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore police are investigating a pair of homicides that occurred during a 72 hour ceasefire from gun violence that was proposed by a number of community groups.
The first killing occurred 41 hours into the ceasefire.
Police say, that just after 5 p.m., officers patrolling the 1300-block of Sargent Street heard gunfire. They located a crime scene at the intersection of South Carey Street and Sargent Street.
Investigators say a 24-year-old man was shot, and was taken to Shock Trauma by friends.
The victim was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Shock Trauma.
The second killing was reported just before 10 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Gertrude Court.
Police found a 37-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to Shock Trauma, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Baltimore City has now recorded 210 homicides for the year.
Anyone with information on either killing is urged to contact the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Section at 410-396-2100.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can utilize the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCKUP or text tips and video to 443-902-4824.
The cease fire started just after midnight Thursday, and was expected to last through Sunday.
Erricka Bridgeford, a professional conflict mediator in Baltimore, is one of the organizers of the cease-fire, whose motto is "Nobody Kill Anybody."
Bridgeford told WBAL-TV 11 that the effort to stop violence will continue this weekend. She says Baltimore “will show the nation,” that the city is committed to fighting violence and stopping it.
There was a vigil near the scene of the South Carey Street shooting. Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith praised that vigil on Twitter.
Bridgeford said the push for peace is not over.
"I believe that my city is going to show up tomorrow vibrating higher, showing love, ready to stand stronger and tighter together. Now we can see we still got a lot of gaps, right? So we're just going to tighten it up. We're just going to tighten it up and vibrate higher," Bridgeford said.
The ceasefire inspired a weekend full of community events throughout the city. The Belair-Edison neighborhood hosted its fifth annual Nonviolent Family and Friends Day with games music and food.
"If we give these kids something to do on a day-to-day basis and mentor these kids, we won't have all these crimes out here," said Dwayne Richardson, with Making Good in Our Community.
Dozens gathered at Frederick Douglass High School for a walk to prevent gun violence. Organized by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence, the goal of the walk was to remember shooting victims.
"We wanted to come here today so that the city could have a moment of peace, a moment of prayer and a time of healing, and this isn't going to be the only step. We're going to make sure that this is just the first step," said Jen Pauliukonis, president of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.
Next week, Ceasefire 365 will meet with a goal of no violence all year-round.
Source WBAL
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