12-Year-Old Dies After Quadruple Shooting; Councilman Calls For Change
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Tragic ending. A 12-year-old boy in Northeast Baltimore, shot while watching a basketball game with friends, has died from his injuries.
Mike Schuh spoke Friday with outraged city leaders.
Sean Johnson's family took him off life support Thursday night, and he died Friday. Now they say they're making funeral arrangements.
Meantime, Councilman Carl Stokes says leads in the case are scarce because of how police conduct their business in these neighborhoods.
If you look closely at Maryland Purnell's house, you'll find one of the bullets that missed. Out on her sidewalk, there's blood that hasn't washed away. And in her heart, memories of 12-year-old Sean Johnson.
"I was stunned, hurt, mad," Purnell said. "He didn't deserve this."
Her perspective is like no other. Not only were four young men shot on her porch--her son, 19-year-old Towson University student Michael McDaniel --tutored Sean.
McDaniel was hit nine times in the leg.
"The scars are already there," Purnell said.
Since the shooting took place in the 1700-block of Cliftview Ave., more police have been stationed in the neighborhood. On those same corners on Friday morning, Purnell stood behind likely mayoral challenger Councilman Carl Stokes, who faults how the city deploys police in neighborhoods.
"I think they're handcuffed," he said. "I think they're not allowed to do their jobs like they know how to do them."
He claims if officers walked the beat, they would be trusted and they'd get more leads after tragedies like this.
When asked if he was using Sean Johnson's death for his own political advancement, Councilman Stokes had this to say: "So we should put a moratorium on standing for young men and other citizens of the city just because it's the political season? Actually it gives us a chance to raise our voices even louder now that you guys will show up."
At City Hall, we asked the mayor about the councilman's concerns coming on the day we find out about the passing of Johnson.
"People in Baltimore are smart," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake. "They see things for what they are. This is a time not for opportunists, but an opportunity to work together to make sure we have stronger connections with the police and our community so something like this doesn't happen again. This is serious business."
With a killer on the loose and no solid leads, Sean Johnson's family, police and the mayor all share the same goal: the tip that will put the killer behind bars.
Police are still looking for leads. Sean Johnson's family says they expect to bury him on Wednesday or Thursday. There will be a vigil at the site of his death Monday at 5 p.m.
