A Baltimore crime reporter's lament
Baltimore Sun police reporter Justin Fenton tried but failed to gather more information on a city killing. Here's why as part of a guest blog, in his own words:
Crime reporters are often asked why every death in the city isn't probed and explored in greater detail than the few lines most receive in the paper. There are a variety of reasons, from unreliable information to a newspaper's resources on any given day, and my experience today is one example.
Martie Williams, 20, was shot Saturday night while waiting to play video games at a "hangout house" in Westport. He fits the basic description of the majority of the city's homicide victims: a male, between ages 18 and 25, African-American, with pending drug charges and prior armed robbery charges that were dropped. He was awaiting a May trial on seven counts of drug dealing. He was the 47th victim of a homicide this year, and No. 48 would be found two miles away just a few hours later on Sunday morning.
But the circumstances of Williams' death - playing video games - intrigued me, and someone's death is not always the result of their criminal history or activity. So I decided to hit the street to find out more.
Active court records list Williams' address in the 2400 block of Dumfries Court, in a public housing complex and just a block away from where the fatal shooting took place. That was my first stop. After knocking on the door, a woman stuck her head out of a second floor window and said I had the wrong address. She didn't know anyone by that name and said her family had moved in within the past few months.
Strike one. But there was still the crime scene to visit, in the 2600 block of Maisel St. Two police officers were already there, going door to door to hand out fliers about "Operation Crime Watch." (The outdated fliers, by the way, note "Mayor Martin O'Malley's determination to ... allow citizens to take action and provide the highest level of personal protection"). I wasn't sure which house exactly was the crime scene, so I stopped to make a few calls. By the time I determined the house number, the officers were gone.
The house is down the street from a youth center and across the street from Westport Elementary School. Compared to some of the other houses on the street, it looked welcoming, with children's toys stacked in the front yard. There was also a front door lying in the grass, and a new front door had been attached.
It was wide open.
"Hello?" I said after stepping just inside the metal gate that enclosed the front yard. No response. I stepped up to the porch and called again, then knocked on the door. That's when I saw the blood spatter against the wall in front of me. The front room, decorated with numerous framed photos, had a TV propped up on a tray, and to the right on the wall was apparent blood spatter. Police said Williams had been shot as he waited to play video games, so the blood made sense.
I called again, knocking and knocking. As I turned to leave, an older man down the street wearing a tool belt noticed me and became enraged.
"Hey!" he boomed. "What the [expletive] are you doing inside my house!"
This was a simple misunderstanding, I thought. I've covered a couple hundred murders and sometimes these things didn't always start off well.
"I wasn't inside the house, sir," I offered. "I'm with the Baltimore Sun, and I'm here to do a story on the young man who was killed." The man was incredulous. He refused to believe that I had not been inside his house. He screamed repeatedly, threatening me and reaching several times for a hammer in his tool belt. A few times he also seemed to be reaching into his waistband. I don't know whether he had a gun, but that's certainly where many who carry weapons will store them. I've covered enough homicides to know that a bullet to the head can result from much less than what I was going through with him at the moment. Just last week, a woman was arrested in connection with shooting and killing another woman, and injuring two others, who accidentally bumped into her on a dance floor. Maybe Williams' death, too, was related to something seemingly trivial, like butting in line to play the video game.
"You have no idea the pain I have," the man said.
"That's why I'm here, sir."
"Gimme two dollars," he said, lightening up for a moment. "Gimme whatever you got." But I wasn't going to give him any money. I pull out my wallet, and the wallet might be gone, I figured.
He came toward me, and people on the street started to take notice. A window at the elementary school opened up, and children chanted. As I walked away, my hands outstretched in a "surrender" pose, he followed, still hollering threats and saying he should hurt me. No degree of explanation that I didn't go into his house changed his mind.
And then I realized I've walked past my car. Oops.
I made a step towards it, offering that I need to get back that way in order to comply with his demands and leave. No, that's not happening, he said. Don't let me see you around here again. Perhaps that was for the best, as I'm pretty sure pointing out my car was a good way to either get my window smashed or get full-out carjacked. Maybe he was all talk, but I wasn't going to take the risk.
So I did something I haven't done yet in my experience as a police reporter: I called the police for help. I dialed 911. I needed someone to just come to the area and help me get back to my car, I said. I don't want any trouble, but I needed to get the heck out of there. Down the street I could see the man, still angry, and now standing with some associates.
It took about 10 minutes for a patrol car to respond, and of course it felt a lot longer. The two-man car pulled up, and they let me hop into the backseat and drove me the 200 yards to my car.
"You're a reporter for the Sun?" said the officer behind the wheel, a huge grin on his face. He was highly entertained by this. I don't blame him - most police think the media are out to get them and second-guessing everything they do, and here I was, begging for help. Not so easy, huh? Of course, I don't carry a gun or wear a vest, either, but that's neither here nor there. I climbed into my car and drove away, passing the man with the hammer as school let out at Westport Elementary.
Obviously, I was a tad shaken by this series of events. But I think more importantly, as my job as a crime reporter goes, perhaps this offers a bit more insight into why not every victim gets a full writeup. For every family that wants to share their pain or see the victim given a spotlight in the newspaper, there's the family that begs us not to write anything out of fear for its safety, or those so overcome by emotions that the mere presence of a reporter is enough to send them over the edge.
Comments
Really interesting stuff.
One thing that I often find missing in crime stories: descriptions of locations. Often times the shorter stories only include the address, but not the neighborhood. For those of relatively new to the city, addresses don't provide enough information about the crime scene. Maybe include landmarks, also, if it's an obscure neighborhood. Just a thought.
Posted by: Richard | March 23, 2009 6:25 PM
Well said, well done. You do good work, and this shows in your sincere attempt at getting to the bottom of this story. Reporters sacrifice much in chasing the good lead, or getting that good scoop, but no one expects a report to risk his life.
Very pleased to hear of a positive outcome (you were not killed). Having been in regular contact with the family, before the incident, immediately after the incident, and EVEN after YOUR incident, I can say a few things.
Truly, your efforts in getting the story is appreciated by them. As I write this (12:48 -- 24 March 2009), I've just learned the police are on scene at yet ANOTHER Baltimore shooting.
Posted by: A.F. James MacArthur | March 24, 2009 12:57 AM
Justin,
I can easily see you becoming the youngest reporter to achieve a legendary reputation at The Sun.
You're intensely dedicated to your craft - something anyone in any field can gather inspiration from.
Thanks for sharing the story and keep it up.
-M
Posted by: Mykel | March 24, 2009 12:14 PM
Wow, Justin. That is rather intense.
I've been at many crime scenes, a couple with you, in areas you'd rather not remember in my sleep in the city. But there is always that sense of protection when the police are at a scene. I cannot imagine walking in some areas alone.
Nonetheless, I'm glad we have reporters willing to go the extra mile to help report a story, even if that means facing harms way. Kudos. Glad you're OK.
Posted by: Patrick Smith | March 24, 2009 3:20 PM
Justin, glad you're ok; often I read about some of the areas reporters go, and sometimes it's apparent that there's no police there. Of course, if there ever comes a time when there are no reporters, no one will get any fresh facts. But we're glad you're out there looking now. You could've beeen "banked" or worse.
However, based on your narrative, the person attempted to rob you, first of 2 bucks, then of "whatever" you had. I was wondering if you told that to the police officers. I was wondering if they even talked to the guy. And, of course, we don't really know whether the murder scene was his house or not.
Posted by: buzoncrime | March 24, 2009 4:40 PM
Chilling account. This shows the dedication of reporters to get the story first-hand, and it also brings to mind what would happen if trained journalists go away, on the police beat or any other coverage area.
I doubt the average blogger who simply links to media coverage and provides second-hand commentary would have the dedication to hit the streets and dig out a story the way you do every day.
Posted by: Jeff | March 24, 2009 5:50 PM
Amazing story - it gave me chills, having been in similar situations for similar reasons. I wonder what you could've - or should've? - done differently...
Posted by: CM | March 24, 2009 5:50 PM
I'd like to echo Jeff's statement...
"I doubt the average blogger who simply links to media coverage and provides second-hand commentary would have the dedication to hit the streets and dig out a story the way you do every day."
That is one of the sad things about the downfall of the newspaper as a medium right now. Anybody can post opinions about stuff from their mom's basement and say that they are experts because they watch The Wire.
There are only a few journalists like this out there who are willing to go out and walk into a blood splattered apartment in order to get the real story.
Good job, Fenton.
Posted by: Pat O | March 24, 2009 8:04 PM
ok i will play the bad guy here....
great effort, but what exactly did you accomplish in terms of reporting about the murder. You certainly have an interesting story to tell but the only thing that came of your experience related to covering the murder was a description of the room and an assumption as to why the people affected by the murder didnt want to talk about the crime.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 25, 2009 11:41 AM
From Peter, to the Bad Guy -- You are absolutely correct, Justin learned nothing in regards to the murder. The post was designed to show what reporters go through to gather information. We try as best we can to talk to everyone involved -- friends and family of victims and suspects, neighbors, and yes, even a look at where incidents take place. It helps shape a picture in the reporter's minds that translate into stories.
Justin, as reporters everywhere do, don't simply take the word of the police or law enforcement, but actually leave their desks to gather information that you can't find anywhere but at the scene. I find it conforting that many of the comments here realize that unlike commentators, reporters hit the streets.
Sometimes, as in this case, the attempt is futile. But Justin did learn something -- he learned that at least one person in the house wasn't interested in talking about what happened, he learned a little bit about the murder scene -- information that helps him and his editors decide how much and what to write about the case.
Posted by: Peter Hermann | March 25, 2009 11:53 AM
Most citizens of Baltimore have an Atlas-sized chip on their shoulder. "It's not my fault. The Man did it. The police are liars. Why is my check late? I'd work but can't find the job I really deserve. Marriage? Graduate H.S.? Save for the future? No, I want mine now!" You can't save most Baltimore citizens from themselves.
Posted by: Ben-Hur | March 25, 2009 12:04 PM
I, for one, would like to know the reasoning behind not identifying victims AND perpetrators by race as a part of the basic reporting throughout the newspaper.
Readers are, instead, left to speculate about this fact by observing the name(s) of those involved (a dead giveaway in many instances) or by taking note of the area where the crime occured.
Is it simply that by providing this fact readers will see just how extensive black crime truly is throughout the Baltimore area?
Basic reporting should include this item and not let it be a victim of the "social engineering" agenda the paper now espouses so thoroughly.
To do otherwise is to provide a disservice to the community as a whole.
Posted by: Robert L. Baer | March 26, 2009 6:23 AM
From Peter: We publish race when it is pertinent to the story. If police release a description of a suspect or a person they are looking for that is detailed enough to help in the location, then we will publish the race. If a motive for a crime is based on race, we will publish it.
In the incident involving Justin, what could you possibly have learned had we published the race of the reporter and the person he encountered? It wouldn't have changed the facts at all.
And I disagree with your generalization that you can tell the race simply by the location of the crime. Many white people buy drugs in black neighborhoods.
Posted by: Peter Hermann | March 26, 2009 7:24 AM
When, pray tell, is race not "pertinent to the story" as you claim?
How else can any governmental agency compile accurate statistics about black-on-black, white-on-white or mixed race crimes if this information is not provided?
And if these agencies need such information, why not provide it to the readership instead of exercising censorship in omitting it?
No ne said you CAN tell race by location of crime. However, it IS a fairly good indicator in most cases.
Posted by: Robert L. Baer | March 27, 2009 5:59 AM
Peter, thank you for allowing these comments here. An interesting discussion is taking place on your blog. Cool! Yesterday I went to the funeral of Martie Williams Jr. I was invited by the family. I just tried to post my account of more of the background on the Sun talk forum, it was promptly deleted. Honestly I'm not sure why I'm so heavily censored by you guys.
I had original information including photos of the victim that's published no where else. In my opinion my information enhanced the readers understanding. Anyhow, I guess the administrators of the talk forum didn't feel it was "newsworthy." Don't you just hate being edited?
I am posting these comments here in hopes maybe Peter will allow some of my more extended remarks in this same space later. I fear going into much detail now as I do not want all that typing to be in vain.
The family has given me unprecedented access and it has been truly overwhelming. From covering a homicide to getting right on the inside. I even went to the neighborhood. No one attacked me with a hammer. ;-)
Be safe all!
A.F. James MacArthur
Posted by: A.F. James MacArthur | March 28, 2009 9:34 PM
Although we read this kind of stuff everyday, I was shocked to read about Martie. I haven't seen Martie or his family since around 1999, but I spent allot of time with them over the years coaching in youth football. I still picture Martie as a shy nine year old kid playing football. I think that this is what makes this tragedy so troubling for me. "Big Martie" was always there to support to encourage, to mentor and to discipline him. Truly a nice family and I am very, very sorry. I cannot imagine the pain you endure.
Posted by: Murphy | April 17, 2009 8:02 AM