You would think that with all the killing in Baltimore, the last thing authorities would need to do is stage a murder.

But that's what they did last week for a group of 30 kids from 11 recreation centers, brought together by the South Baltimore Teen Council. Baltimore police officers from the Southern District -- Kevin Vaught, Ron Teufer and two others -- set up an elaborate scenario in a luxury 19th floor condo at Silo Point.

There was a shooting -- a maintenance supervisor killed, possibly by his employee who was angry at being caught sleeping in a model appartment -- and a scared witness. The kids had to proncess the crime scene, interview the witness and figure out how to proceed. In the coming days and weeks, they will meet with real homicide detectives, develop a trial strategy and even try the case in Baltimore Circuit Court. I plan to follow them through the process.

The kids asked great questions and seemed to have fun. The idea was not to showcase death -- the cops know we have too much of that in this city -- but to who kids another side of the city police and to give them idea about careers. A murder investigation covers just about every aspect of the legal field and can shed light on everything from the medical examiner to trial attorneys and judges.

The scenario comes complete with police reports, charging documents, interview notes and involves the city state's attorney's office, public defenders's office, recreation center leaders and city police.

Baltimore Sun's photographer Monica Lopossay has a photo gallery up on our website and the story that ran Sunday is here.