August Marks Drastic Decline in Homicides, Decrease in Shootings

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Baltimore saw declines in both homicides and non-fatal shooting incidents in August over July, marking a change in the previous month’s trend.

Baltimore Witness data recorded 23 shootings occurred throughout the city in August, an 18 percent decrease from the 28 recorded in July.

On Aug. 11, ShotSpotter alerted police to the 1800 block of N. Castle Street, where a 15-year-old male was found with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was listed in stable condition and expected to survive. Investigations are currently ongoing in the case.

Baltimore Police also made an arrest in connection to a shooting that occurred Aug. 8 in West Baltimore. James Barrett, 38, was arrested as a suspect in the shooting of a 26-year-old male victim on the 1800 block of Edmondson Avenue. After arresting Barrett on the 3100 block of Stafford Street, detectives transported him to the Central Booking & Intake Facility and charged him with attempted first-degree murder.

Homicides saw a drastic 60 percent decrease from July to August, with Baltimore Witness data showing six across the city as opposed to 15 in July.

North Baltimore’s Central Park Heights neighborhood saw a mass shooting on Aug. 9, with four male and two female victims sustaining gunshot wounds on the 2900 block of Spaulding Avenue. Jerome Michael Coateson, 38, was listed in critical condition following the shooting, and succumbed to his injuries the following morning. Police, who initially responded to the 5100 block of Queensberry Avenue, reported a 5-year-old girl among the five injured survivors.

Nine days later, on Aug. 18, 29-year-old Wilson Marroquin Caceros was gunned down on the 2700 block of Manokin Street, where responding officers located him unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.

No arrests have been made in connection to Coateson’s or Caceros’ deaths.