Council President Scott's Statement on Killing of MTA Bus Driver

BALTIMORE, MD (October 8, 2020) -- Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott released the following statement in response to the killing of an MTA bus driver, Marcus Parks, by a passenger on Thursday afternoon. 

"Our bus drivers have been our heroes during COVID. They have been on the frontlines of this global health pandemic, providing an essential service in these uncertain times. Marcus Parks was a hero and today he was taken from us. My thoughts and prayers are with this family as they navigate this devastating time. 

Today’s killing is not just another murder in Baltimore. It is another family traumatized. Another soul lost to the disease of gun violence. What happened today is part of a repetitive cycle of pain and trauma that plagues our city, and to end it we must reimagine our approach to public safety. 

We must and we will develop a strategy to deal with violent offenders and the flow of illegal guns into our city. We must also normalize trauma-responsive care and create a culture where folks don’t turn to violence to settle a conflict. Enough is enough. This never should have happened. We must ensure our public transportation system is safe for the many young people, essential workers, and families who rely on it each day."