BALTIMORE, MD – Baltimore police have arrested a 17-year-old male on weapons charges in connection with a mass shooting that occurred at a block party in the city. However, the suspect has not been charged with murder, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The teenager, whose name was not released by the Baltimore Police Department, is facing charges of possession of a firearm by a minor, assault weapon possession, reckless endangerment, and carrying a handgun in a vehicle.
The police department referred to the teenager as a “juvenile person of interest” in the shooting and emphasized that the investigation is still open and ongoing.
A reward of up to $28,000 has been offered by the police for any information that leads to an arrest and charges related to the shooting.
The incident took place on July 2 in the Brooklyn Homes community of South Baltimore. It resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injured 28 others, including several children. This shooting was part of a series of mass shootings that occurred in the lead-up to the Fourth of July holiday, prompting President Joe Biden to renew calls for stronger gun control legislation.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 361 mass shootings in the United States in 2023. The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.