Steph Deschamps / July 5, 2023
At least two people were killed and 28 wounded by gunfire during a block party on Saturday night in Baltimore, on the east coast of the United States, police said.
At least two people were killed and 28 wounded by gunfire during a block party on Saturday night in Baltimore, on the east coast of the United States, police said.
Law enforcement received calls reporting gunfire shortly after midnight, said their chief, Rich Worley, at a press conference.
"Upon arriving on the scene, police found numerous people who had been shot," he added.
An 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were killed, and some of the injured are in critical condition, said Rich Worley. The victims range in age from 13 to 32.
The shootings occurred during a street party in a popular neighborhood of Baltimore, a city known for its high crime rate.
The circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear, and the authorities have yet to identify a motive or suspect. They do know, however, that "more than one person was shooting", said the police chief at a second press briefing in the afternoon.
The crime scene is "very extensive", covering several streets, which is complicating the work of the investigators, he added.
Authorities called on residents to report any information about the shootings to police. "Act like your daughter, son, brother or cousin was there and got shot," urged Brandon Scott, the city's mayor.
The United States is paying a very heavy price for the spread of firearms on its territory and the ease with which Americans have access to them.
Some 44,357 people died from firearms in 2022, including 24,090 who committed suicide, according to the Gun Violence Archive.