Man fatally shot in McElderry Park
UPDATE, 10 p.m.: The victim has been identified by police as 20-year-old Kevin Pierre. Based on the information given by police, Pierre did not appear to have a criminal record. We're trying to find out more about him, but feel free to post any remembrances in the comments section.
A man was fatally shot Monday afternoon in Southeast Baltimore's McElderry Park neighborhood, police said.
The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m., apparently at the intersection of Belnord Ave. and Pulaski Highway, with the unidentified victim running up the street and collapsing on Orleans Street, where the curb was covered in blood.
"I saw the dude laying on the ground, trying to catch his breath," said Shawnte Surles, 37. "After that, he wasn't breathing no more. ... It's hurtful. I wanted to cry. His mother and them came down, and they couldn't get over there .. they had to stay behind [crime scene] tape.
The shooting was the first in the McElderry Park neighborhood, historically plagued by gun violence, since Jan. 1. The Safe Streets violence interrupters program is centered there, with ex-cons and gang members paid to mediate disputes and teach alternates to gun violence. City officials say it has been successful, and are looking to expand it to other areas. The adjacent Ellwood Park community, which once had a Safe Streets post, saw two shootings recently.
Barbara Grant, 54, and Andre Anderson, 38, stood outside as police examined the crime scene. A bullet fired up the street grazed Grant's car and came to rest in the side mirror of Anderson's vehicle. Police told Anderson they would need to remove his mirror to take into evidence.
Grant said her family moved into their home a year and a half ago, taking advantage of a program to encourage people to move into rehabbed homes in struggling neighborhoods. "You want to come into a neighborhood to bring up the value of the neighborhood ... we had no idea what we were getting into when we bought this house," she said.
"I just happened to have the day off - it's a government holiday," Grant said. "It's the middle of the day. I could've been out walking my dog. There's babies out here playing. There's kids walking home from school. It's crazy."
Comments
I grew up with this dude. He was the type of person to always laugh and have a good time. Never the violent type. Things like this just don't make any sense...
Posted by: Grant | October 13, 2011 12:18 AM
I grew up with this guy from kindergarten to 8th grade. Been through a lot of stuff had some good times and memories. Always one to have your back and make a joke. I never remember the kid getting into a fight. He was just a friend to everyone. Its not right what happened to him. Just one more great person taken from the world. I'll miss you big Kev
Posted by: Steven Hiotes | October 14, 2011 12:29 AM
As Steven said "have your back" and as I understand it that's what caused him to be shot. Protecting a female from a male beating her down. Then to make matters worse the ambulance took way to long to arrive, he was conscious and alert and police would not let him use his own phone to call for help, nor would they let anyone take him to the hospital. They did what they do best...nothing! Just let him lay in the street and bleed out. On top of that funeral services have been postponed because the funeral director, Vaghn Greene forgot to pick him up. What is this world coming to? What does a criminal record have to do with being shot? When someone white is shot that's not the 2nd sentence, he has no criminal record! Baltimore needs Jesus, bad and NOW!
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The reason we sometimes mention a criminal record or a lack of a criminal record is that police say the majority of the killings in the city are drug-related or retaliatory, and people tend to assume that someone killed in a tough part of town has a record and "had it coming." When someone has no record, we think it's important to point that out. -JF
Posted by: Concealed Identity | October 16, 2011 11:47 PM
I went to school with Kevin from head start up until 8th grade. I know everyone who has posted here. This hurt me, and I'm so sad for his family. His mother was such a great person, he was a great person. Nobody deserves this but Kevin definitely did not. He definitely did have everyone's back. He was so nice and supportive and kind to everyone. Someone getting bullied, he was right there like 'Hey, don't let them get to you.' He had the kindest heart, and was such a wonderful person to know. It's so sad that such amazing people are taken from us. He truly is one of God's Own. He was a great friend, a great classmate, someone you could joke with... he always had good energy about him, and this is a sad time for all of us that knew him.. his friends, his teachers, his classmates, his family.. Whoever did this needs to come to justice because YOU are the hand of the Devil.
Posted by: TY | October 18, 2011 8:23 AM