Baltimore welcomed the new year with a slight increase in rates of homicides and non-fatal shootings. The city recorded 12 homicides in January, one more than December’s total of 11. Non-fatal shooting totals increased from 18 in December to 20 in January, with two being police-involved shootings.
One officer-involved shooting occurred on the evening of Jan. 7, during a traffic stop in Mount Vernon. At approximately 9:18 p.m., an officer from Baltimore’s Central District noticed a vehicle with suspended registration tags and stopped 29-year-old Marquise Wells on the 300 block of W. Franklin Street.
Wells initially complied, handing over his driver’s license and registration. Upon noticing a firearm in Wells’ waistband, the officer attempted to disarm him, leading Wells to drive off while dragging the officer behind him. The officer fired once into the vehicle and fell to the ground, while Wells sought treatment at an area hospital, where he was arrested and charged with assault and several other related counts.
The officer has since been released from the hospital after sustaining minor injuries.
West Baltimore’s Bolton Hill neighborhood saw the city’s second police-involved shooting incident. On Jan. 19, reports of an armed individual led officers to an apartment complex on the 1100 block of Park Avenue, where they found several residents standing outside the building in response to a fire alarm. Upon entry, officers observed blood in the hallway, along with 48-year-old Autumn Elizabeth Denny brandishing a knife.
Following multiple failed efforts to de-escalate the situation, an officer opened fire and struck Denny twice. Denny was hospitalized for treatment and has since been charged with assault and several weapon violations.
In response to both officer-involved shootings, the Baltimore Police Department Special Investigations Response Team (SIRT) has activated its Public Release of Critical Incident Recordings Policy, releasing audio and video recordings of both incidents.
Among other January arrests was the apprehension of three suspects in connection to a Darley Park armed robbery. On Jan. 14, officers responded to an East Baltimore hospital, where they found 36-year-old Davon Johnson receiving treatment for gunshot wounds. Officers soon learned Johnson had been shot inside a residence in Darley Park.
While canvassing the residence, took three persons of interest into custody. Johnson later succumbed to his injuries, and the suspects – 19-year-old Derrick Williams, 18-year-old Dasean Williams, 28-year-old Keishonne Moore – now face murder charges in connection to the fatal shooting.
A day later, a triple shooting at the Hollinswood Shopping Center in Southwest Baltimore left one dead and two injured. The deceased was later identified as 25-year-old Treyvon Matthews. Two other men, ages 24 and 38, were transported to area hospitals in stable condition. Police have yet to announce an arrest in connection to Matthews’ death.
Just five days after the strip mall shooting, officers apprehended 30-year-old Eric Jones and charged him with the murder of 33-year-old Dashond Johnson, whose body was found manifesting stab wounds near a body water off Gwynns Falls Trail. Officers determined Johnson was killed on Jan. 2.
