A shooting rampage witnesses say was triggered by a dispute between two groups of young women left an unidentified man dead and three others, including a juvenile, injured.
Stunned residents of the West Baltimore neighborhood said Friday the bloodbath erupted after several suspects returned to the scene of an argument to chase and shoot rivals in a wild melee.
“According to the investigation there was a fight between two groups of girls earlier in the day,” Thursday, said police spokeswoman Nicole Monroe. “Once the fight began, a male in the group pulled out a gun and began firing, and it just escalated into the melee that followed, with tragic, tragic consequences.”
“I heard people fighting, then someone yelled ?We?ll be back,” said Shirely Watson, 32, who lives in the neighborhood.
“Then I heard shots, and my daughter started banging on the door and people were running,” she said. “It was crazy.”
The gun battle left four victims — 22, 23, 19 and 14 — shot and bleeding just blocks apart. The 23-year-old victim died in route to Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center..
The victims were found on the 1100 of North Ellamont Street, the 2900 block of Ellicott Driveway and on the 3000 block of Normount Avenue.
“All close together,” said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for the Baltimore city police, who did not release the names of the victims. The fourth victim was discovered hours later.
“He walked into St. Agnes hospital with a gun shot wound to the thigh, and was at first was not being cooperative,” said Officer Monroe.
Avis Williams, a longtime neighborhood resident, said the Rosemont Apartment complex where the 23-year-old victim died is a source of trouble for the community.
“Something happens there every month,” she said. “I lived here for 30 years. I don?t want to leave, but it may be time,” she said.
BALTIMORE VIOLENCE
Homicides through Aug. 31: 209
Homicides through Aug. 31, 2006: 179
Total homicides for 2006: 276
Shootings through Aug. 31: 478
Total shootings for all of 2006: 406
