Witnesses describe what transpired before mass shooting in Baltimore City

A heavy police presence remains in East Baltimore nearly 24 hours after shots rang out near a park in the Oliver neighborhood.

Around 8 p.m. Sunday night, 36-year-old Anthony Martin was killed, and seven others were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds after a mass shooting, investigators said.

After police left, Roca and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement worked the neighborhood, offering resources and support.

According to witnesses, the mass shooting started as an argument over a parking spot. It happened after a motorcycle gang gathered to remember a member who died in a balloon launch, witnesses said. Then, according to witnesses, a fight broke out.

“One individual moved a cone and wanted his girlfriend or wife to park there. And that’s when it all started. It exploded,” said Chareese, a witness.

Chareese said everyone was in a circle. She anticipated trouble and called 911.

“We called 911 to report it,” Chareese said. “We called twice. I even put in a 311 complaint — I said there was a disturbance and noise in the community, and we are trying to keep the community clean.”

Detectives spent most of Monday looking for witnesses and surveillance footage. 11 News counted eight cameras near the shooting scene alone and a Ring camera near the parking spot where the argument broke out.

“I’ve never seen nothing like this all my life,” Chareese said. “I’ve lived here since birth, so it was very disturbing.”

With the exception of Martin, all victims are now in stable condition. Investigators believe multiple people fired weapons. They found multiple firearms at the scene.

Despite the crime scene, life goes on in Oliver. 11 News saw kids playing basketball Monday around the police tape. Neighbors said historic Oliver is a stable neighborhood.

“Just last Sunday, they had a good giveaway in the park. Yesterday morning, before this event, they had a clothing drive giving away clothes to the community. There’s a lot of good things going on in the community — I feel like this event may overshadow all of that,” said someone who lives in the neighborhood.

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