At least two people were killed and more than two dozen were wounded in a mass shooting in southeast Baltimore early Sunday morning, authorities said. CBS Baltimore initially reported that the shooting happened at a block party and authorities later described the gathering as a "Brooklyn Day" cookout event, which has been held annually in the neighborhood for the last 27 years, with hundreds of kids among the attendees.
Baltimore police officers say they responded to multiple calls of a shooting at around 12:35 a.m. An 18-year-old woman, identified as Aaliyah Gonzales, was pronounced dead at the scene, and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi was pronounced dead later at a local hospital.
"When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. We located one female adult deceased on the scene. Nine additional victims were transported from the location to area hospitals," Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at a news conference Sunday. The other 20 injured victims walked into various hospitals in the area, he said.
A total of 30 people suffered gunshot wounds at the block party, officials said. The victims' ages ranged from 13 to 32 years old, with 14 of the victims under the age of 18, police said. Three people remained in critical condition on Monday.
Police have confirmed there were at least two shooters and are investigating if there were more. Police said they did not yet know if the shooting was targeted. Baltimore city officials said Monday that there were likely "more than two" firearms used in the rampage, with Mayor Brandon Scott adding that "a few people" are believed to be responsible for the mass shooting.
No arrests had been made, but police said they were continuing to review numerous video clips shared with the department as evidence while also interviewing victims. A reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects has been set at $28,000, up from $8,000.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the homicide unit by calling 410-396-2100. Community members can also report tips anonymously to Metro Crime Stoppers, either by phone or online.
Worley acknowledged on Monday that Baltimore police did not become aware of the "Brooklyn Day" cookout until hours before the shooting took place. He said the department has launched an interview review of potential failures within the police force to prepare or dispatch officers to the area ahead of the event. Scott encouraged the community to gather in celebration over the holiday weekend as planned.
Scott spoke about the ongoing search for the shooters during an interview with "CBS Mornings" on Monday.
"We are not going to stop until we find them and hold them accountable. But we're not just going to stop with them. We're going to try to find out who sold the gun and who trafficked that gun into Baltimore and hold everybody on the chain responsible, because that's what we need to start doing in this country," Scott said.
The mayor stressed that reducing gun violence can't be done "solely on the backs of police officers," but requires the involvement of a whole range of government agencies and community groups. And he urged Congress to take action.
"We need all of Congress to get on board and enact real gun law changes to prevent folks who shouldn't have them to being able to have that access. It should not be easier for a young person to go online and order a ghost gun than it is for me to get some Claritin D from my local pharmacy," Scott said.
In a joint statement issued by the mayor's office and the police department, officials said, "This tragedy again shows why we must continue to focus on the amount of illegal guns on our streets that make it into the hands of individuals who should not have them and continuously carry out violent acts in our city."
"This act of violence has shaken our city to the very core, and we are all grappling with the shock, pain, and trauma that accompanies such a heinous act of destruction," the statement said.
