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Baltimore Reaches 300 Homicides For 2018

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore recorded its 300th murder of 2018 as the city continues to be one of America's most violent.

The 300th victim is a 30-year-old man shot in the face on Baker Street between Fulton and Monroe just before 11:30pm Wednesday.

Governor Larry Hogan said he was "frustrated" at the continuing "unacceptable" violence and noted an upcoming violent crime strike force initiative that combines city, state, and federal resources to target the most violent criminals.

"We're very frustrated, but we're continuing to work with local and federal partners to try to assist the city with this terrible problem that there doesn't seem to be a lot of progress with," said Hogan.

The governor expressed outrage at the turnover in Baltimore's police department, which has had three commissioners this year with another on the way.

"A start would be to have a violent crime plan and a commissioner who stays around for more than a few months," Hogan said.

Among the victims in the city this year is Moses Jaber, a father of five.

He was shot last Saturday outside the convenience store he owns on Garrison Boulevard.

His son Amar urged people to help police solve the killing.

"We don't want anyone else to go through this. We don't want these people to hurt anyone else," he told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren.  "The violence—it really does need to stop. Baltimore is not a bad city. I grew up here."

He spoke about how beloved his father was at the store he ran for more than 20 years—and the community that relied upon him.

A memorial outside the business includes signs reading "rest in peace" and "gone but not forgotten."

Police released surveillance video of the four suspects in the case. You can see them fleeing after one fired a bullet into Jabar's chest.

Homicide - 2900 Blk of Garrison Blvd by Baltimore Police on YouTube

Among the other victims in 2018 is Jacquelyn Smith, an engineer stabbed to death after giving money to a woman panhandling with her baby.

83-year-old Dorothy Mae Neal was raped and murdered in her home. Police arrested a 14-year-old for the crime.

7-year-old Taylor Hayes was murdered in a drive-by shooting. Her younger sister Amy was shot several months later but survived.

18-year-old DaVonte Friedman was killed in East Baltimore. He had previously spoken to the city council about preventing violence.

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