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Holiday Weekend Violence Leaves 5 Dead In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--A holiday weekend of violence. In 24 hours an uptick in crime across the city leaves several people dead.

Rick Ritter has the latest.

More than 10 shootings in less than 24 hours leave five people dead. Police say this city will prevail, but not without the help of the community.

Mayhem along city streets, a surge of crime throughout Baltimore sparks a violent start to the holiday weekend.

"It is disheartening that we're seeing such an increase violence especially when you think about the progress we've made," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

On Friday, six shootings alone leave three men dead.

Saturday is far from better with two more fatal shootings--prompting Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Davis to address the uptick.

"For whatever reason, they're acting with impunity right now," Davis said.

Lives gone with the pull of a trigger and catching the eyes of all ages.

"One man died up the street, he got shot in the chest. I feel like on this block, everything is happening terrible," said Gregory Brooks.

Police admit responding hasn't been easy.

"There's no secret it's been challenges in terms of patrol response to certain calls for service to Western District," Davis said.

Protesters outraged over police brutality now turn their focus to the violence.

"Today we woke up with 103 people killed in Baltimore City since January 1st," said Kinji Scott, Community Activist.

A devastating number that continues to grow, but police and community leaders say they will persevere.

Deputy Commissioner Davis says, "We're in the middle of the moment of time right now, when we look at back at this, we're going to judge ourselves by the decisions we make."

Calling on community to help  know people witnessed these shootings, they believe it's only a small group of individuals responsible for most  of the crime.

On Saturday night, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts addressed his officers before their shift, thanking them for their hard work in getting the violence off the streets.

Batts tells WJZ that out of crisis comes opportunity and that it will provide an opportunity to change the future of the city of Baltimore.

"We have a grand opportunity to change how we police in our communities. Community engagement is a grand opportunity to sit down and establishment relationships and that's what we're going to start doing," he said.

Anyone who has information on any of these shootings is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

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