Council President Brandon Scott's statement on this weekend's violence

Council President Brandon Scott's
statement on this weekend's violence

"We will only reduce crime if our approach is comprehensive — grounded in the immediate action we can take today, while simultaneously addressing the root causes of violence."

BALTIMORE, MD (December 22, 2019) — Council President Brandon M. Scott issued the following statement in response to news that seven people were shot early this morning, with at least two people losing their lives to gun violence yesterday:

"I am heartbroken by this weekend's violence. Yesterday, according to social media and news reports, a beauty shop owner named Destiny was shot inside her store on N. Milton Avenue in front of her baby daughter. A few hours later, blocks away, a 21-year-old man was shot and killed in McElderry Park. The Baltimore Police Department is also reporting that seven people were shot early this morning, including three teens between the ages of 17 and 18.

These are the stories of young people whose lives were cut short too soon, of children who will grow up without their parents, and of families who will be spending time in the hospital this holiday season praying for the recovery of their loved ones. The violence we're experiencing impacts entire communities. It undermines our faith in Baltimore ever being a safe, secure place where children and adults can live and grow. As a city, we must value life over everything.

Let me make something clear: only a true coward would murder someone in front of their child. Only a true coward would murder a child. And if you or someone close to you knows the people involved in these shootings in any way, you need to tell them to step up and face the consequences of their actions.

As I've said time and time again, we will only reduce crime if our approach is comprehensive — grounded in the immediate action we can take today, while simultaneously addressing the root causes of violence. Although we cannot lose focus on the root causes, there are things we can be doing right now. We must focus on arresting the most violent offenders. We must be committing every bit of BPD’s resources — every officer, every unit, every task force — to reducing violent crime."

— Council President Scott