Baltimore Mass Shooting Leaves at Least Two Dead, Multiple Injured

Two people were killed and 28 others were wounded in a mass shooting at a party in Baltimore early Sunday, police said.

Officers responded to the 800 block of Gretna Avenue in Balimore's Brooklyn neighborhood at around 12:35 a.m. to multiple calls about a shooting, a Baltimore police spokeswoman confirmed to Newsweek.

Officers arrived to find multiple people with gunshot wounds. Nine victims were transported by police to local hospitals, while 20 victims took themselves to area hospitals.

The police spokesperson told Newsweek that an 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 20-year-old man died in hospital. Three victims are currently listed in a critical condition.

Baltimore Police Department Acting Commissioner Richard Worley said detectives are working an "extensive" crime scene to determine a motive for the shooting.

"If anyone saw anything or knows anything, please call 911 or call local Metro Crimestoppers," he said during a news conference.

According to local news reports, hundreds of people had gathered in the area for an annual celebration called "Brooklyn Day."

Rebecca Pryor, a reporter for Fox Baltimore, tweeted that one witness heard at least 20 to 30 shots fired from around 12:30 a.m. "They just kept going off," the witness said.

At the news conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said that the city is grieving for the lives that have been lost and the people who were injured in what he described as an "unspeakable" tragedy.

"This morning all of Baltimore is grieving for the lives that we lost here and our hearts are with all those who are still recovering as the result of this mass shooting," he said.

"This investigation is ongoing and our homicide detectives will continue to work until they find out what happened here.

"But what we do know this morning, this was a reckless, cowardly act that happened here and that has permanently altered many lives and cost two people their lives. And I want those who are responsible to hear me very clearly. We will not stop until we find you and we will find you.

"Until then, I hope with every single breath that you take that you think about the lives that you took and you think about the lives that you impacted here tonight."

He also said the shooting "highlights the impact and the need to deal with the overproliferation of illegal guns on our streets and the ability for those who should not have them to get their hands on them."

The shooting was also condemned by groups that support gun restrictions.

"Another day, another weekend in America where we are waking up to news of a mass shooting," Kris Brown, president of gun control advocacy group Brady, said in a statement to Newsweek.

"This Independence Day, multiple families will be in mourning because of a uniquely American crisis. America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but we will never truly be free until we are free from the daily threat of gun violence. We are reaching a fevered pitch in America where the people's demand for common-sense gun laws can no longer go unheard by those in power. Our hearts go out to those impacted by yet another horrific tragedy."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the police at 410-396-2100.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can use the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCKUP or text tips through the Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland website.

Update 7/2/23, 10:50 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add a statement from Brady.