Two Teenagers Charged in Shooting Near Baltimore High School
BALTIMORE — Two of the three teenagers who were shot near Carver Vocational-Technical High School in West Baltimore on Friday are facing charges in relation to the shooting.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Presstman Street at North Bentalou Street around 7:50 a.m., right at the corner of the school.
Police found a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old boy shot at the scene, while the third victim, another 15-year-old boy, walked into a nearby hospital.
One of the victims was shot in the chest and required a chest press and tourniquet, but all of the teenagers are expected to survive their injuries.
During the course of their investigation, detectives learned that the parents of one of the 15-year-old boys took him to the school with the intention of assaulting someone, according to authorities.
The parents allegedly joined their son in the assault, during which he pistol-whipped his intended victim, police said.
Following the physical altercation, the teen fled and ran into another 15-year-old boy. They both engaged in a verbal altercation, pulled out handguns, and began shooting at each other.
Both teenagers were injured by the gunfire, and a 16-year-old boy was injured in the crossfire. In the chaos, another student at Carver Vocational-Technical High School took one of the guns used in the shooting and fled, according to police.
The 16-year-old boy was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital.
The two 15-year-old boys remain hospitalized in stable condition. Once they are released, they will be charged as adults with attempted murder and handgun violations.
Authorities have taken the two parents into custody, and charges against them are pending.
Residents in the neighborhood were shaken by the incident. “I come out in the morning to say my prayer, and next thing I know, all I heard was boom, boom, boom, boom,” said Evelyn Talley, a longtime resident of Presstman Street.
Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby expressed his concerns about school safety. “No resident in any corner of our city should feel unsafe going to school in the morning. It’s simply unacceptable, but that paralyzing fear is something too many residents in our city live with each day,” Mosby said in a statement.
Baltimore City Schools asked families not to go to the school following the shooting. Counseling services will be available to students and staff on Monday, with extra support provided as needed.
The investigation is ongoing, and the school district is working to ensure the safety of its students and staff.
Editor’s note: Police initially reported the victims’ ages were 16, 16, and 17. Those ages have since been updated.