BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The mother of a 14-year-old murdered in northeast Baltimore came back to the scene where her son, Ty, was shot just days ago to honor his life.
“I could care less who did it because what difference does it make if they catch him. I still can’t have my son back,” his mother, Tamesha, told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. She asked us not to use her last name. “He was my baby.”
#WJZ at 5: A mother speaks about the death of her 14yo son in Northeast Baltimore @wjz pic.twitter.com/M41DzIIc5u
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) September 15, 2020
The teenager was gunned down in the 2600 block of Polk Street in the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello neighborhood just before noon Friday. He is of more than 50 people shot in Baltimore since Labor Day.
“He was a good baby. If you met him and you sat in his company, then you loved him,” his mom said.
More than 50 people have been shot in Baltimore since Labor Day. To date, there have been 238 homicides and 519 people who were shot and survived. This compares to 245 homicides at this time last year—and 570 non-fatal shootings. @wjz #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/BV8OdijD6i
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) September 15, 2020
50 People Shot, 15 Fatally, In Baltimore In A Week
Ty was an aspiring rapper. “I ain’t worried about jail, I’m just worried about dying,” he said in one of the lyrics his family played for us.
Tamesha got comfort from Tyree Moorehead.
Moorehead is painting a memorial to Ty at the scene. He has designated it a “No Shoot Zone.” This is one of thousands Moorehead has painted across the city as he urges people to put down their guns. You can read more about his activism here.
“The shooter didn’t have neighbors running out of their house—outraged—saying, ‘What are you doing out here?’” Moorehead said as he lamented the lack of action in the neighborhood. “They didn’t have older men and women stepping out saying, ‘I’ve been living here for years. You’ve got to stop this.’ We used to have that.”
Moorehead took a break from spray painting Ty’s name on the sidewalk to hug and the teen’s heartbroken mother.
“I wish we could paint the whole city a ‘No Shoot Zone,’” he said.
There have been 238 homicides in Baltimore City this year. That is seven fewer than last year at this time.
At least 519 people have been shot and survived in the city so far this year. That compares to 570 at this time last year.
BPD has recently seen incidents of violence occur as a result of individuals playing dice games and other illegal gambling. If you witness any type of illegal or suspicious activity in your community, please call 911 or 311. Caller can remain anonymous https://t.co/PIhr5LDHf8
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) September 15, 2020
That includes a 59-year-old man hit in the shoulder in Northwest Baltimore Tuesday afternoon.
Also Tuesday, police identified 39-year-old Melvin Thompson as the man who was killed in Federal Hill Park on Sunday. You can read more about that shooting here.
Live by the sword you shall die by the sword. Aspiring rapper says it all…..lil thug and part of the problem.
You have to be a total cretin to say ugly things about a dead child. NO CHILD DESERVES TO BE SHOT and being involved in rap music does not mean you are a criminal. This was a child, even if he made bad choices, he was still a child and had a family that loved him. Kids are kids, they do make bad choices and they can also simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most kids that age want to be something like a singer, pro athlete, actor & so on that they realize w/ maturity is not a realistic aspiration.
Curiously Tyree Moorehead was convicted of murdering someone with a gun and served time for it and also for gambling on the street & of course drugs. He is now awaiting court for driving an uninsured vehicle w/ expired tags & no license etc & went to court on 4 charges a little over a year ago, He is not a saint to be sure.
the 14 YO was carrying a gun, play the game you will get hurt or dead
If his mother really cared about him, she would have known everyone he hung with and everything about them… sounds like he was with the wrong crowd( or was the wrong crowd) …just a baby is right, needed his Mom to be there for him( probably no father in the picture either).. the culture is what kills in the city. Until people realize that and change it , things will continue to get worse… Be involved in your kids’ lives and dont let them become a statistic…
Hap Katt, listen here white liberal, you can speak to me when you truly understand whats going on out there in the streets of Baltimore. Make no mistakes it’s sad this young brother lost his life but I know the life he was living, a life his mother clearly condoned. See, that’s the problem with you white liberals you fail to recognize black deviant behavior when you see, in fact I would go as far to say you people try to justify it. Moreover, I would say because of your failed white liberal policies which force black men out of the home this young brother was left to be reared by a woman who clearly couldn’t control him.
Agree with all you said, except I do not understand the ” policies that force black men out of their homes ” statement..Please elaborate…
It is inappropriate to make nasty remarks about the death of a child. None of you knew the young man or his family or the situation with them. Even if it was not good, be respectful and keep comments to yourself. A child has died and that is a tragedy.
What is the difference between White deviant behavior and Black or any other race deviant behavior? Kids of all races grow up to be outstanding citizens or problems. Kids are not responsible for the parents they have.