Baltimore witnesses the 337th mass shooting of 2023 in the US, two dead and over two dozen wounded
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Baltimore: The United States has seen yet another mass shooting and this time it is in the city of Baltimore. In the early hours of Sunday, at least two individuals lost their lives and 28 others were wounded in the violent incident. The shooting took place during a street party in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Maryland state, prompting multiple calls to the police.
It is the 337th mass shooting in the US in 2023.
Acting Police Commissioner Rich Worley addressed the media during a press conference, revealing the grim details of the incident. "Upon officers' arrival, we located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds," Worley stated. Among the casualties, an 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 20-year-old male victim also succumbed to his injuries, confirmed a police statement. The wounded victims were promptly taken to nearby hospitals. Three of them are in critical condition.
Authorities are now diligently working to identify a suspect and establish the motive behind the shooting.
The official emphasised the complexity of the crime scene, acknowledging that the investigation would require substantial time and effort. "This is an extensive crime scene, our detectives are going to be here quite a while," he said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who visited the crime scene, expressed his profound grief and condemned the senseless act of violence. "This is an absolute tragedy that did not have to happen," Mayor Scott expressed, highlighting the urgent need to address the rampant proliferation of illegal firearms and the ease with which individuals who should not possess guns can acquire them. He further asserted the city's unwavering determination to bring the perpetrators to justice. "We will not stop until we find those cowards who decided to just shoot dozens of people, causing two people to lose their lives," he declared.
The alarming frequency of mass shootings in the United States has once again come to the forefront. With the Baltimore incident marking the 337th mass shooting of the year, the devastating toll of gun violence continues to rise. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which defines a "mass shooting" as an incident where four or more people are wounded or killed by gunfire, reports that the country has the highest rate of gun deaths among developed nations.
In 2022 alone, there were at least 44,357 gun-related deaths, including 24,090 suicides.