Homicide and non-fatal shooting rates in Baltimore City saw an up an down trend between April and May, with only slight changes to both.
While homicide rates doubled, the number of total incidents increased by three. The city recorded six homicides last month, one of which was a fatal stabbing.
Lamont Gooding, 20, was stabbed in the chest near the Lord Baltimore Hotel downtown, and succumbed to his wounds at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center shortly after. Police have yet to make an arrest in Gooding’s death.
One day prior, Tyriel Simms and an unidentified man, both 21 years old, were shot in Cherry Hill. Officers responded to the shooting at approximately 3:40 a.m., and Simms was pronounced deceased on the scene by medics. The other victim is expected to survive his injuries, according to police.
Non-fatal shootings saw a four percent decrease from 27 total incidents in April to 26 in May. Baltimore Police made arrests in five of those 26 incidents.
One of those suspects, 32-year-old Antonio Chase, was arrested downtown on May 10 after police allegedly connected him to a broad daylight shooting that occurred earlier that morning on Marion Street. Chase was apprehended at approximately 1:37 p.m., and police said they seized a loaded handgun from him during his arrest. He now faces charges of attempted murder and assault, along with various handgun offenses.
Two and a half weeks later, police responded to a shooting in the Baltimore Highlands, where they found a 14-year-old boy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital and was reported in stable condition. Police advised they took a person of interest into custody for questioning, but did not disclose the person’s identity.
Melvin Talbot, 62, was arrested June 1 for allegedly shooting a 55-year-old man at a Windsor Hills home just two days prior. The victim is expected to survive. Talbot now faces charges of attempted second-degree murder.
