Three Shootings Less Than One Hour

1. Shooting, Orleans/ Rose St, adult male shot. Homicide notified.0126
   
2. Shooting, 4000 Pennington, adult male shot, homicide notified0121 hours
3. Shooting - Monument St/ Luzerne, adult male shot. Homicide unit notified.0037 hours
   developing . . .

Man In Van Shot To Death In West Baltimore

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Murder Occurred On Same Block As Blue Light Camera

Baltimore police responding to a call for shots fired around 11:35 p.m., found the body of 28-year-old Antonio Wilson, slumped over inside a 2001 Chevrolet van. The drivers side door and window had multiple bullet holes with an unstated amount of shots hitting Wilson.

Wilson was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.

The incident occurred on N. Calverton St near the intersection of Wheeler Ave. This reporter observed the victims van was still running with the headlights on after crashing into the rear of a parked white pickup truck and smashing into a utility pole.

Witnesses tell the Baltimore Spectator a lone gunman on foot ran up to the van as it stood still at a stop sign and opened fire on the driver, before running off in an unknown direction. The driver of the van loss control while attempting to flee his attacker. Unconfirmed reports say a female passenger may have also been in the vehicle and was unhurt.

Although Wilson had several trials on drug related charges pending, police do not have any suspects or a motive at this time.

The shooting happened on the same block as a blue light CitiWatch surveillance camera. Police have not said whether or not the camera provided usable footage.

Baltimore Crime, One Day Review

City Claims Of Crime Decline Seems Unfounded

Here’s a look at some of the serious incidents reported via Baltimore Police Twitter in the last day as of 0700:

SHOOTING: Reported @ North/Greenmount, adult male shot multiple times 21 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

SHOOTING: Reported @ Fayette / Belnord, adult male shot. Life threatening injuries, police investigating about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

UPDATE: Stabbing @ Tunbridge is now a homicide about 8 hours ago from TwitterBerry

STABBING: 600 blk Tunbridge, adult male stabbed in chest, critical condition Police investigating about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry

SHOOTING: Reported at North/Madison Ave, adult male shot. 2:21 AM Jun 18th from TwitterBerry

Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s Green Zone/Open Letter To Mayor Dixon

To The Honorable Mayor Sheila Dixon,

I've been quite impressed with the recent increase of police presence at the inner harbor. For a while it seems we were about to lose control of the last bastion of peace and tranquility in Baltimore City. With the neighborhoods resembling combat zones in physical appearance, level of danger, and the hopeless mentality pervading the residents, it’s nice to have a place where you can let your guard down. Thank you for reassuring us there is at least one safe place left. After all, the rest of us don’t get 24/7 armed bodyguards like you do.

When I look to my left and I look to my right, all I can think of are my neighbors that were murdered in cold blood inside their homes. Home invasion murders, even indoors, there were not safe. Not to mention the street robberies that have also ended in murder, several within the last weeks.

My have all abandoned this city and urge me to do the same; they worry for me more here than they did when I’ve been overseas, in combat zones or places experiencing civil unrest and near total anarchy.

What will it take for a stepped up police presence in the hood? I know there’s little potential for well to do whites getting hurt there, so reducing the violence won’t provide nice photo ops and political PR points?

As a homeowner, for years I’ve watched the property values in my neighborhood fall, just as I’ve watched the bodies of those murdered around me fall. And yes, I have literally seen the bodies.

Honestly, I’m sorely disappointed in you and your administrations lack of comprehensive effort in truly attacking the problems we in our neighborhoods. I knew all along you didn’t really care about us, but more and more, you remind me just how little regard you have for our safety.

Open air drug dealing is tolerated despite repeated calls to police. This place is a gang stronghold, yet the gang unit is understaffed, with few actually pounding the ground gathering needed intelligence.

From where I stand, there appears to be no sincere desire to clean up this part of town. I guess it’s because we’re not on the beautiful waterfront, we don’t have the shops, restaurants and lots of white tourists. TV cameras only come around here when one of us fall victim to the murderous thugs permitted to rule the streets.

With one of the home invasion murders being right next door to me, I feel quite unsafe even in my own house. If I really want to feel safe I could always start sleeping on a bench at the Inner Harbor right? Not really, Bealefeld and his bullies would find a reason to arrest me then. Not like they need probably cause. Lack of it has never been stopped the Baltimore Police Before.

Commissioner Bealefeld told me it’s safe at the Inner Harbor, but he wants people like me to stay in our neighborhoods. He wouldn’t dare be so bold as to say it’s safe where I live.

So tell me Madame Mayor, what have you done to make us safer out in the neighborhoods, and what’s the current plan, where do we go from here? Oh yeah, that whole crime is down thing, seriously now, we’re not buying it, and from where I stand, honestly, I just don’t seen. Tell that to the family of Dr. Woah-Tee, they’re the ones crying.

Sincerely,

A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

A city resident living in fear of his life on a daily basis.

P.S. Since you’ve ignored all the private letters I’ve sent you, I’m quite sure you’ll ignore this one too. It’s ok Madame Mayor. I’m used to it now. Didn’t vote for you last time, and at this point, I’ll be glad to work tirelessly to see no one else will next time.

P.P.S. To my supporters; should you suddenly not here from me, know that they're up to they're old tricks again. Probably pulled another underhanded mob tactic. We know how our leaders can't take criticism.

SICK: Couple Starved Son To Death, Convicted

Child looked like "a Holocaust victim." -- emergency room doctor

John Griffin and Susan Griffin killed their son. The two 39 year olds were convicted in court for starving their two year old boy, Andrew, to death. Both were charged with second degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. The counts carry up to 30 years in prison.

John Griffin testified Tuesday that he was too busy with his job to notice anything was wrong with his son.

The trial, per the Griffin's request, was decided by Baltimore County Circuit Judge Timothy Martin as opposed to a jury trial.

Death penalty anyone? Governor O'Malley, do these two cretins deserve to breath another breath, when lil Andrew is now 6 feet under?

UPDATED: Arrest Imminent In Chandra Levy Murder

'We really came down with a break.' - D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier

Former Congressman Gary Condit must be shaking in his boots.

In a case that has been opened for eight years, with not even so much as a suspect being named, we now hear from DC's daily, that Metropolitan Police expect to make an arrest within days. The Baltimore Spectator is reaching out to his old friends down with the DC police to try to get some inside info.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation reveal police plan to arrest Ingmar Guandique. The 27-year-old Salvadoran immigrant attacked two women at knifepoint in Rock Creek Park around the time of Levy's disappearance in May 2001.

FLASHBACK: Chandra Levy Timeline

Aw Shucks: Gary Condit Responds

Aw Shucks: Gary Condit Responds

ANOTHER ONE: Young male shot to death in Northeast Baltimore

Police responded to the 5600 block of Sagra Road in Northeast Baltimore to find a man shot in the head. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Over the weekend, a 30-year-old man was shot and killed outside a nightclub in Northeast Baltimore. Last week a 62-year-old veteran was stabbed to death.