A 12-year-old girl was shot and killed Saturday evening after two men allegedly opened fire on each other during a dispute near a youth football homecoming event at Leon Day Park in Baltimore, police said.
Three adults were also wounded in the shooting. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the gunfire erupted after an argument between two men that began over a parking space.
“What we know is that there was some type of argument between two cowards, and of course, they both opened fire on each other,” Worley said.
Worley said the girl appeared to have been at the park watching the football game when she was struck. “In the crossfire, a 12-year-old little girl who was probably down there watching football was shot and killed,” he said.
Police said officers responded to the 1200 block of North Franklintown Road at approximately 6:15 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. They found a 25-year-old woman with an apparent gunshot wound along with the girl, who was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
A 28-year-old man and a 23-year-old man separately arrived at area hospitals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. All three surviving victims were listed in stable condition.
As of Saturday evening, police were searching for at least two suspects described as adult men. No arrests had been announced as of late Saturday night.
City leaders react
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the shooting one of the worst things he has witnessed, saying it stemmed from two adults who could not settle an argument without resorting to guns.
“Two grown men got into an argument and now a 12-year-old is gone,” Scott said. “What happened out here today is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Scott said the loss would be felt widely across the community. “We’re never gonna see her full potential,” he said. “Her family’s gonna be hurting for this for the rest of their life. Her classmates are going to be hurting, her community’s going to be hurting.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Baltimore homicide detectives at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland.
