Murder City: Are Baltimore’s streets safe?

Twenty-seven more people were killed in the city in the following weeks, including a veteran city police officer, a former Morgan State University student and a 61-year-old Anne Arundel County man. So far, police have closed four of those 29 homicides, which included a police officer fatally shooting Isaac Pitts in self-defense on Jan. 31. They also are in the process of serving a warrant for another case. That leaves 24 unsolved.

Deputy Commissioner Col. Frederick Bealefeld said he wasn?t alarmed by the police department?s 14 percent January closure rate, noting that he is confident the open cases of his approximately 42 homicide detectives are “moving forward.”

“We got off to a furious pace. It takes a little while before you start catching up to things,” he said. “We?re sitting on 20-plus murders out of the box, and we?re dealing with a very busy December. The clearance rate at the beginning of the year is not really a good gauge to look at.”

It was the same story last year, and the year before that. In fact, January has had an average of 28 homicides since 1997.

January?s numbers have drawn outrage from the community. Mayor Sheila Dixon condemned the violence, and Baltimore National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Marvin “Doc” Cheatham led a 100-person march through the McCulloh Homes housing project in East Baltimore Jan. 27 to galvanize citizens.

“We are here to end the apathy,” Cheatham said at the rally. “We are here to recognize the continuing violence, and we?ll keep expressing our outrage until things change.”

In the past four weeks, Officer Troy Chesley was killed at his doorstep, two men separately were found dead in wooded areas, and Marcus McDowell, 16, was fatally shot in a robbery. Alleys, cars, restaurants and even a bus stop just blocks from popular Belvedere Square and the Senator Theater have become murder scenes.

Like any other unit, Bealefeld said, homicide investigators could use more manpower. Some detectives grapple with a caseload of up to eight murders a year, almost three times the national average.

But most of all, Bealefeld said, police struggle with a “lack of witness participation” ? the shooting where no one, not even the victim?s family, will say what happened.

“We?re trying to reduce violence in this city, period,” Bealefeld said, issuing a plea for people to be more forthcoming with information. “I understand people?s fear and apprehension. [They] look out their doors and say, ?That?s the guy who shot somebody, and before that he shot somebody else.? ”

“Don?t you think I?d cut off my finger to know who that guy is?”

Suspects facing trial

» Adrain Brown, arrested on Jan. 6 for Edward Canupp?s killing.

» Brandon Grimes, arrested on Jan. 9 for Troy Chesley?s death.

» Police have obtained a detainer for Vivian Day, who is wanted for the murder of Nelsene Burnette. Day is in the Baltimore County Detention Center, police said.

MURDER BY THE NUMBERS

January homicide total: 28, plus one death in a reported police-involved shooting.

Deadliest Day: Jan. 9, with five murders, including that of Officer Troy Chesley.

Oldest victim: Edward Canupp, 61, whose body was found by his brother on Jan. 5.

Youngest victim: Marcus McDowell, 16, who was shot to death Jan. 8 during a robbery.

Manner of death: 24 died of gunshot wounds.

Pace: If it keeps up, 330 homicides for 2007.

Suspects: At least three have criminal records, including drug arrests.

Number of victims with criminal records: At least 19.

Number of victims on parole or probation at the time of death: At least seven.

Homicide comparisons: New York City reported 23 through Jan. 28; Philadelphia 32; Washington, D.C. 15.

Source: Baltimore City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York police departments.

Read Murder City: Families losing hope

[email protected]

[email protected]