In my opinion the death of Ken Harris may have been prevented if Keith Covington, the owner of the New Haven Lounge, had take some measure of precaution by hiring private security. It is the responsibility of the business owner to protect its patrons even if no one else does. The prior robbery put him on notice that safety was important.

As a part of the community neighboring the Northwood Plaza, our community and members of it and many others have been very interested in improving the conditions in the plaza.

Many of the northeast Baltimore communities have been very active and vocal in envisioning a use of the space that better suits the community and is much safer. In particular, a number of organizations came together earlier this year to develop a working group to develop ideas to improve the space. The results, presented by the NDC have been posted on our website: www.originalnorthwood.org under news.

Generally as The Baltimore Sun website reported, at least one of the owners of the plaza and some politicians don't recognize their role in addressing the acute problems and the need to take definitive action.

The result is that the plan sits in wait of the desire for those who can to act. Morgan State University owns a part of the complex. It's distressing that not only have they missed their development promises completely, but they are also woefully quiet in confronting the safety challenges that threaten not only patrons of the mall, but also their own students.

The mall is definitely under-managed. I find it hard to believe that any "real" area mall would have commercial activity with no security. I find arguments to the contrary to fall flat. This is not the first murder there in the mall, only the most public. It's distressing that our government and our people are only prepared to act after the worst has happened.

It is so sad and heartbreaking that a person who fought for people's dignity and problems was murdered. Baltimore is becoming such an unappealing place to reside in. Something needs to be done or so many good law abiding people will continue to move away from Baltimore. My prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Ken Harris, Ken was a school mate of mine. He will surely be missed.

Its the responsibility of the police department to protect and serve the people. Its the responsibility of the politicians (law makers) to enforce the laws to protect the people. This clearly shows that the politicians want to point the finger at the business owner knowing that this area like many areas in Baltimore is a hot spot for crime. Ken Harris is one of many victims in Baltimore that lost his life in this town. When will are leaders learn and when will the people vote in the right people to lead us. How many more lifes need to be lost until we wake up.

What would be interesting is to know how many of those 46 robberies resulted in an arrest by the police, and out of that subset, how many criminals had the charges dropped by our State's Attorney? And then how many times did those who were given a free pass by the SAO then get arrested again for other crimes? This data would be even more interesting given the proximity (about 1500 feet) between Jessamy's house and the location where Mr. Harris was murdered.

One thing for sure you can't stop crime in the area by finger pointing. Crime has been out of hand in the city for a long time. I would love to live in my native city, but I refuse to put up with the crime element there. I was recently talking to a friend in the same parking lot and noticed a group of kids hanging out. Two of the kids produced handguns that they were "playing" with. Not a cop in sight. I instructed my friend, who had his back to the kids, to calmly get in his car and drive away. City residents need to stop fooling themselves and realize that the elimination of poverty and crime is not really a political priority because it is not profitable, and until it is, Baltimore citizens are casualities waiting to happen.

I would like to look at this situation from a different angle. My outlook and opinion is based on my faith. When it is your time, it is your time. God called Ken Harris home and it is not fair to blame the Shopping Center or Keith Covington. People get shot multiple times every day in this city and don't die. We need to ask ourselves, what is God trying to tell us in this situation? What is the lesson? Was it to bring us together or divide us by pointing fingers?

Sure, pass the blame on everyone but the thugs thmselves. That neighbohood has turned to hell in a handbag.

I remember when that neighborhood and that shopping center were thriving. I remember when you could walk through that shoping center without feat of being mugged--in broad daylight. There was a 4 story Hecht's on the East end of the shopping center, and a decent (though not too fancy) grocery store, Pantry Pride. Of course, that was 30+ years ago

But by the 1980's, you could no longer walk through there without a sense of fear that some young punk thugs would accost you on the way to your car. How do I know this? because it happened to me in broad daylight coming out of the Rite Aid. But by that point, that neighborhood was well on its way down the sewer, and it's gotten worse and worse ever since.

Unfortunately, it took the murder of a fine and decent public servant to wake everyone up to what I and many others have known for the past 25 years.

GB: I can answer the first part of your question.
Of the 33 robberies that occurred since 2002, five resulted in arrests - two juveniles, three adults. But I do not know the outcome of those charges.
-Justin

To Thomas Jones--

You have no one to blame but yourselves (collectively). You (collectively) keep putting the same politicians back into office year, after year, after year, with the same promises, promises, promises.

Whether their names are Anderson, Curran, O'Malley, Dixon, Clarke, Jessamy, McIntosh, Conway, Sarbanes, Cardin, Mfume, Mikulski, etc, your neighborhod has done more than its fair share to ensure that the same politicians are put back in office over, and over, and over again.

I'd bet just about every aforementioned politician has won the precincts in your neighborhood by comfortable, if not wide margins. It's really helped the renaissance of that shopping center, hasn't it...??!!??

Yet that thug ridden mass that's called a shopping center (or plaza, or mall--whatever) has done nothing but get worse, and worse, and worse each and every year, and has been doing so for the last 30 years, easy. Why? Because the politicians that YOU (colelctively) put back into office every election cycle have tolerated the fact that the worthless plot of land has hit rock bottom, and have tolerated the crime that goes on there on a regular basis. Yet YOUR neighbors continue to reweard these hack politicians for failing YOUR community shopping center.

Mr. Jones, I don't know how long you've lived in that part of Northwood, but I lived not too far from there for about 10 years. That shopping center was barely safe when I lived in Ednor Gardens in 1977, it was flat out unsafe when moved out of there in 1987, and it's now a danger zone in 2007.

(This is usually where I get blamed for the problem because I decided to move my family to much safer area with a good public school system instead of tolerating high crime rates and violent youths. One woman even had the gall to call me "racist" for not wanting to patronize the shoping center. I learned later that she did her regular shopping at the Giant in the then-upscale Rotunda. She was white by the way.)

Sure there are beautiful homes in Original Northwood, and I've met some very nice families from there, but most have since high-tailed it out because the majority of the residents in and around your neighborhood have had their heads in the sand for the past 30 years. Why do I say that? Because the politicans have had plenty of time to right the wrong, but YOUR neighbors see to it that no matter what, they're put back in office.

YOUR neighborhood has been taken for granted for decades, and until they buck local political machine establishment, those same politicians that you collectively reward for failure will continue to deliver broken promises.

Before you continue to finger point, it's time to take a good long collective look in the mirror. Election results don't lie.

To Thomas Jones--

You have no one to blame but yourselves (collectively). You (collectively) keep putting the same politicians back into office year, after year, after year, with the same promises, promises, promises.

Whether their names are Anderson, Curran, O'Malley, Dixon, Clarke, Jessamy, McIntosh, Conway, Sarbanes, Cardin, Mfume, Mikulski, etc, your neighborhod has done more than its fair share to ensure that the same politicians are put back in office over, and over, and over again.

I'd bet just about every aforementioned politician has won the precincts in your neighborhood by comfortable, if not wide margins. It's really helped the rennisance of that shopping center, hasn't it...??!!??

Yet that thug ridden mass that's called a shopping center (or plaza, or mall--whatever) has done nothing but get worse, and worse, and worse each and every year, and has been doign so for the last 30 years, easy. Why? Because the politicians that YOU (colelctively) put back into office every election cycle have tolerated the fact that the worthless plot of land has hit rock bottom, and have tolerated the crime that goes on there on a regular basis. Yet YOUR neighbors continue to reweard these hack politicians for failing YOUR community shopping center.

Mr. Jones, I don't know how long you've lived in that part of Northwood, but I lived not too far from there for about 10 years. That shopping center was barely safe when I lived in Ednor Gardens in 1977, it was flat out unsafe when moved out of there in 1987, and it's now a danger zone in 2007.

(This is usually where I get blamed for the problem because I decided to move my family to much safer area with a good public school system instead of tolerating high crime rates and violent youths. One woman even had the gall to call me "racist" for not wanting to patronize the shoping center. I learned later that she did her regular shopping at the Giant in the then-upscale Rotunda. She was white by the way.).

Sure there are beautiful homes in Original Northwood, and I've met some very nice families from there, but most have since high-tailed it out because the majority of the residents in and around your neighborhood have had their heads in the sand for the past 30 years. Why do I say that? Because the politicans have had plenty of time to right the wrong, but YOUR neighbors see to it that no matter what, they're put back in office.

YOUR neighborhood has been taken for granted for decades, and until they buck local political machine establishment, those same politicians that you collectively reward for failure will continue to deliver broken promises.

Before you continue to finger point, it's time to take a good long collective look in the miror. Election results don't lie.

when are law makers going to learn that jail is not the answer!! hardened criminals laugh at doing time!! why not, we let them workout, hangout out with other gang members,smuggle in drugs,play ball! HOW IN THE WORLD IS THIS rehiblitating these no regard for life criminals!! they need to be sent to a military style camp where you get the skills to learn to be a respectable human being,teach them job and life skills!! that they are not geting in the home. our street's and peoples lives will be saved in the balance.some of the laws we have are out dated and favor the criminal more than the hard working citizen!! stricter laws should be in place for minors doing crime and their PARENTS should be held accountable!! it's a shame that are streets are run by mindless crime ridden punks!! i blame the law makers and city leaders who have the power to rid these streets and make changes with stricter laws!!! how many more people will die a senceless death by the hands of a mindless street punk.,WAKE UP LAW MAKERS AND CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT FAILED SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE!!! "PUT FEAR IN THE FEARLESS" and rid our streets of the element that commit these crimes JAIL IS NOT THE ANSWER, REHIBILITAION CAMPS AND A STRICTER HAND IS SWIFTLY NEEDED!! they'll think twice knowing they will be sent to a camp were until u graduate you're not geting out!! CLOSE THE REVOLVING DOOR CALLED OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

It is positively disgusting that city government and neighborhoods are pointing fingers trying to blame a murder on a property owner, so as to avoid responsibility for public safety.

Fact: hoodlums are out of control in this city.

Fact: the only way to deal with them is to aggressively police, arrest, convict, and incapacitate them.

To lay blame on a thing, a place, or a firm is just more liberal nonsense.

Question: do the 'objectification advocates' want to be shot like Ken was?

No.

Then DON'T underprovide public safety/policing in commercial areas which you would not accept at your domicile.

If you think the police shouldn't have to surveil a commercial area, then let's move the hoodlums RIGHT ONTO YOUR BLOCK.

Yeah, I said it. Let's desegregate the criminal population. Locate them in Tuscany/Canterbury. Then we'll see how non-public a problem you think crime is.

The police, in reality, can't really protect us. Their job is more of a reactive, rather than proactive design. If you take the square mileage that one patrol car has to cover, it is fairly obvious that a police car can't be at all places in their sector at all times, thus crime will happen in areas where they are not.
I am married to a police officer, so I am not a police basher. I just hate when a crime happens and people blame the police. It takes everyone to cut crime: the community, the police, and the courts.

The whole place needs to be shuttered, just like that liquor store on North Avenue. I mean, it's clearly drawing and enabling a criminal element in the area, right?

Yes, this is another sad and senseless killing that has occurred in our City.
Unfortunately, just like all the others the community that is coming together in vigils and being angry at this will once again (sad to say) will go back into their homes, keeping their eyes closed to what their neighbors and their own children are out here doing.
By all means prove me wrong and stand up and not cower away when things like this happen again--and they will happen again.
God can only do for man what man is willing to do for him/herself.

I hate to say it... but having worked at MSU, and taking the bus... I have had to walk through that parking lot many times. It's really foolish for anyone to be there after dark. I have no idea what Ken Harris or anyone else thought would happen. Even with police there, the parking lot and the area in general is frightning. If an adult sticks their hand in a light socket and gets shocked... is it the manufacturers fault that they got shocked? Shouldn't the adult know better than to put his or her own safety at risk? If you frequent a bar or nightclub that doesn't have security, and is in a less than safe neighborhood, you should know that you are taking a big risk. The club won't change until it looses business as a result of the security. Much the same, neither will the shopping center management, or MSU. Of the 33 reports of robbery/crime, how many others do you think happened and weren't reported... and with only 5 arrests out of 33... come on now... who in their right mind thinks that adding more police will make it safer... look at what they do now...

The police are responsible! Isn't it their responsibility to uphold the law? Not just come to the scene once the law has been broken? Many police officers know the drug dealers in that area as well as other areas. I don't understand why they continue to turn a blind eye to the drug dealing. Drug dealing is a CRIME and many times it leads to VIOLENT CRIME! I have lived in the Northwood area and have seen 15 - 23 year old boys standing at the gas station and other areas passing along drugs. I've also seen police cars pass right by these boys while transactions were going on. It almost seems like the police are scared to do anything. Or they don't care unless a violent act has already been committed. On one hand I do feel sorry for the police officers, because sometimes they do arrest the criminals, but the judicial system allows them to get right back out. But on the other hand, the police do NOT get my sympathy because it is their JOB to keep arresting them.

Why is it that the police mobile command station is at Northwood now? What are they doing? Surely, they don't think those boys are coming back anytime soon. The command station has deterred other boys from the dealing openly in the immediate area. I appreciate it, but it's too late for Ken.

Bottom line - police need to stop the drug dealing, gun carrying criminals, BEFORE the violence begins!

It sadness me to see what has happened to Northwood Shopping Center. I can remember as a young girl coming to the shopping center and going to the Hecht Co, in those days it always appeared to be safe and you would be patrol cars. Is is because there was a white business there?
As the years went by I saw the shopping center change. The Haven became a hang out for me in the 80-90's and I always felt safe being there.
I left Baltimore two years ago and moved to Las Vegas, before I left I saw a drastic change in the shopping center; it had lost it's life and the times I was there you never saw any patrolman any longer. People where starting to talk about the safety of the shopping center and many no longer wanted to go there to enjoy what little live black entertainment and nightlife Baltimore had to offer.
I know there where times that Mr. Covington did have security there but I am sure with an alling business it was difficult to maintain.This was over two years ago.
I was home in July and went to Northwood during the day. What I saw was appalling. It has become a hang out for thugs. I observed drug tansactions, and I was fearful during the day so I can only imagine how unsecure it is a night when it is deserted.
I feel that the responsiblity should not be just on the business owners. Being a longtime resident of Baltimore and moving from East Baltimore to Cockeysville, where I lived for eleven years before I left; I saw the drastic difference between the black areas and the white areas as far as security was concerned.
Northwood has many longtime middle income residents and has tried to maintain one of the strongest neighborhood associations in the city. This community deserves the same protection as the white neighborhoods. Being someone who has been in many neighborhoods in Baltimore both white and blacks; I am ashamed to say the white neigborhoods have better security. You have security in Canton, Fells Point and Inner Harbor East. Why is this??
Although I no longer live in Baltimore, I still care. My family and friends are still there and some of them live in Northwood. The City of Baltimore owes it to these tax paying citizens to make the Northwood neighborhood safe again. The Police Department should protect and serve all people.

Who do you think should bear the burden of keeping the area safe?

The damn citizens, that's who!

COMMENT: THIS WAS SAD, BUT I UNDERSTAND HE CAME IN THE BACK WAY! THE POLICE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, AND THEY SURE CAN'T BE BLAMED. CRIME IS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES , AND ITS ALL ABOUT ''DRUGS'' UNTIL OUR GOVERNMENT PUTS A STOP ON OPEN BORDER, ILLEGALS ARE RUNNING THE DRUGS, NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT, SO ITS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED SO GET INVOLVED, CALL YOUR REPS,, CALL THE GOVERNOR, AND CLOSE YOUR ''SANCTUARY CITY'' NOW ! IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER, ONLY WORSE.