Baltimore Reaches Grim Milestone: More Than 100 Shootings, 40 Homicides In May
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In just 30 days, Baltimore has seen more than 100 shootings. May is the deadliest month in the city in 25 years. And relations between the community and police remain tense.
Meghan McCorkell has more on what's being done to reverse this deadly spike in violence.
Community organizations are stepping up to try and heal the rift between neighbors and the police.
Crime tape surrounds a sidewalk in West Baltimore, as the city reaches a grim milestone -- more than 100 shootings in the month of May. Forty people have been killed.
With the city in crisis mode, the Guardian Angels take to the streets.
"A lot of people are outraged with what's going on," said Krush Kent, Baltimore Guardian Angels.
The group -- participating in COP walks around the city, trying to convince community members to come out and self-police their neighborhoods.
"We have to take these streets back block by block. We can't let these criminals have them. We want them back," said Kent.
But as the violence continues to increase, so do the tensions between police and some in the community.
"If we are going to truly come together as a safe city, we have to work together. The community cannot do it alone. The police cannot do it alone," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
Demonstrators gathered at City Hall Saturday afternoon to show support for the police, holding signs and chanting. But there were some tense moments as counter-protestors faced off against officers.
"Baltimore can be re-claimed," said Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.
Sliwa says -- for now -- his organization can bridge the gap between the community and the police.
"It eventually has to heal -- because whether you like the cops or don't like the cops, without the cops, there's anarchy," he said.
Healing that could end scenes like the one Saturday afternoon.
The Guardian Angels hope to increase attendance at COP walks across the city.
According to our media partner, The Baltimore Sun, the last time the city had 40 homicides in a month was August of 1990.
