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Baltimore Names New Public Enemy No. 1

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore police have named a new Public Enemy No. 1. Officers across the city are now hunting down what they call a vicious gang member who ruthlessly killed someone on a children's playground.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the manhunt.

Investigators say Capone Chase is a member of the Black Guerrilla Family gang. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Nineteen-year-old Chase is now the most wanted man in Baltimore. Police say he lured 21-year-old Ramon Rodriguez to this Greektown playground, and then killed him execution style.

"A lot of our officers know who he is already before this incident occurred. All of our officers throughout the entire police department know who he is now and we're going to put him behind bars," said Major William Davis with the Baltimore City police.

According to court records, Chase was being held on a robbery charge but was released on a plea deal just 48 hours before the killing.

Friends of the victim are in shock.

"I just don't understand why somebody would do this to him," said one woman, who asked not to be identified.

Neighbors--who held a memorial for Rodriguez--say his pregnant girlfriend was forced to watch the murder.

"Ramon told the guy that shot him, `If you're going to kill me, kill me. But I ask one thing of you, do not hurt my baby's mother,'" said the woman.

Chase is the second Public Enemy No. 1 named by the Baltimore City Police Department since this violent summer began. Their first target, 25-year-old Darryl Anderson, was captured by U.S. Marshals in Alabama.

Naming a public enemy is a new tactic for city police. Once one is behind bars, they'll name another.

"This is a tactic to get the names of the people who are killing people in this city out so we can get them behind bars," Davis said.

Now they're focusing all their efforts on getting Chase off the streets.

Just like Anderson, Chase has a cross tattoo on his forehead.

Anyone with information on Chase is asked to immediately contact police.

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