AT least two people have been killed and 28 have been wounded after a mass shooting at a Fourth of July weekend block party in Baltimore.
Gunfire broke out early on Sunday morning in the Brooklyn Homes area of South Baltimore.
Officers from the Baltimore Police Department were called just after 12.30am, acting Commissioner Rich Worley said.
Worley confirmed that one woman, aged 18, was found dead at the scene.
A 20-year-old man was also pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Three out of the wounded are said to be in critical condition.
Cops rushed nine people to nearby hospitals while 20 victims “walked into area hospitals across the region,” a police statement said.
The shooting occurred at an event known as Brooklyn Day where hundreds had gathered to celebrate, according to WBFF-TV.
Witnesses said they heard between 20 and 30 gunshots.
“They just kept going off,” one told the outlet.
Mayor Brandon Scott declared the incident as “reckless.”
He said: “This was a reckless, cowardly act that happened here and that has permanently altered many lives and cost two people their lives.
“I want those who are responsible to hear me and to hear me very clearly.
“We will not stop until we find you and we will find you.
“Until then I hope with every single breath that you take that you think about the lives you took and you think about the lives you impacted here tonight.”
Worley said in a briefing at the scene that homicide detectives are “working an extensive crime scene” and trying to determine a motive.
Officers have been seen searching the area which is littered with trash and debris, including someone’s shoe.
According to WBFF-TV, parents of those who attended the block party have started arriving on the scene searching for their children.
If anyone has any information they are urged to content Homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.
For those with information who wish to stay anonymous, they can call the Metro Crime Stoppers line at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
