WASHINGTON – Violence rocked the streets of Baltimore this holiday weekend leaving 27 people shot, including several who were killed.
The latest slayings make May the deadliest month in the city since 1999, The Baltimore Sun reports.
So far this month, 35 people have been killed.
Last week, police Commissioner Anthony Batts said his concern remains on the Western District where the rioting broke out after Freddie Gray’s death.
Officers encounter large crowds even while responding to routine calls, Batts says.
“Any time in the Western (District), when officers pull up they have 30 to 50 people surrounding them at any given time. We have to send out multiple units at any time. They’re just doing basic police work,” Batts said.
He says the tension between officers and the community is still palpable and he’s reorganizing leadership to reassign any employee who has previously had good relationships there to the district for the time being.
“We’re only three weeks off a major event that took place in the city. It’s going to take time,” Batts said.
