Last year, the notoriously dangerous east side of Baltimore was the darling of the police department -- homicides went down and at one point the district boasted the best crime reduction in the city.

This year, six of the first 11 slayings in the city have occurred in East Baltimore, the latest at Eager and Bond streets this afternoon. My colleague, reporter Justin Fenton, who got there about 45 minutes after the gunfire reported crime scene tape and crime lab technicians, but little else. Police tell us that three people were shot there, and one of them died.

We're checking with police now to see what is going on that side of town. I know Maj. Melvin Russell, who I spent time with a few months ago while he showed off his new community policing programs. He is working tirelessly to build a community policing strategy and re-engage frightened residents in helping the police help them make their neighborhoods safer.

I got a call earlier today from an official working to redevelop parts of the east side who expressed concern about the gunfire. At this point, we're not sure if there's a drug war going on or something else, but I'll report back when we hear.

Here's the latest tally from East Baltimore:

1. Jan. 1, 12:55 a.m., Man fatally shot 700 N. Luzerne Ave. (He died Jan. 2)
2. Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m., Man fatally shot 800 N. Kenwood Ave., (He died Jan. 4)
3. Jan. 2, 5 a.m., Two men fatally shot 1100 Orleans St.
4. Jan. 2, 1 p.m., Two men shot and wounded at East Biddle Street and Luzerne Avenue
4. Jan. 3, 11:50 p.m., Man fatally shot 800 Webb Court in apparent robbery of delivery man
5. Jan. 7, 2 p.m., Three men shot, one fatally, East Eager and Bond streets

Here's a map of city homicides.