Three people were shot in Baltimore overnight, while a second victim in a double shooting Tuesday night died at a hospital, bringing the city’s homicide total to 301 for 2016.
According to the Baltimore Sun, this is the second straight year the city has surpassed 300 homicides. In 2015, Baltimore recorded 344 homicides, making it the deadliest year in city history on a per capita basis.
This time last year, there were 325 homicides in Baltimore, in large part because of an increase in violence during the April 2015 riots over Freddie Gray’s death.
Last year, the city hit the 300 mark on Nov. 14.
At a business leader forum Wednesday morning, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby called hitting the 300 mark “very disturbing.” Much of the gun violence has been of the retaliatory nature, Mosby explained.
Mosby added that she and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis will be pushing for tougher punishments for gun possession in the upcoming legislative session.
In a tweet last month, Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith wrote, “Let’s put the guns down. Too many families broken apart, and for what?”
