Girl, 12, shot dead and three adults injured after gun fight erupts over parking spot near youth football event
A 12-year-old girl was killed and three adults injured after a gun fight over a parking spot near a youth football event.
The horror unfolded at Leon Day Park in West Baltimore on Saturday night as crowds gathered to watch the Charm City Buccaneers homecoming game.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting at 6.15pm and found the girl and a 25-year-old woman she was with suffering from gunshot wounds.
They were raced to the hospital where the youngster died from her injuries. The woman is in a stable condition, CBS reports.
Initial investigations indicate that the victims were caught in the crossfire when a dispute erupted over a parking spot, according to police.
An additional two men aged 23 and 28 were also struck and taken to the hospital and are expected to survive, NBC reports.
Police are now searching for two men in connection with the shooting.
‘What we know is that there was some type of argument between two cowards. And of course they both opened fire on each other,’ Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Commissioner Richard Worley said.
A 12-year-old girl was fatally gunned down in a shooting which injured three adults at a football match in Baltimore
Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Commissioner Richard Worley, above with Mayor Brandon Scott, said police believe that the dispute began over a parking spot
‘And in the crossfire, a 12-year-old little girl who was probably down there watching football was shot and killed.’
He confirmed police suspect that the altercations stemmed from a disagreement over parking.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also addressed the tragedy and said on X: ‘What happened tonight is disgusting, heartbreaking, and unacceptable.
‘My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragedy.
‘We will do everything in our power to hold those responsible accountable.’
At a news conference he added that the shooting was ‘one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.’
‘Because that baby is just out here, at homecoming, for this youth football league, which is out here every single day, trying to keep people safe, trying to keep young men and young women on the right path, and this is their homecoming,’ he said.
Charm City Buccaneers youth football league coach Mark Brown said the shooting broke out mid-game.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact BPD homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.
