By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Eastside Baltimore City District Court was closed on Jan. 31, following a “serious” shooting that took place inside the courthouse. According to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, a 35-year-old man is in critical condition as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Baltimore Police on X.
The commissioner said it was clear that the man was “suffering from a behavioral crisis,” as he was pacing back and forth in the courthouse just before the incident.
“The sheriff’s deputies and the bailiffs tried to interact with him. At some point, he withdrew a firearm from his body and pointed it at his head,” said Worley during a Jan. 31 press conference. “Sheriff’s deputies and bailiffs tried to get him to drop the weapon. Unfortunately, he did not.”
Worley said one of the bailiffs fired a shot in an attempt to stop him from harming himself. But, the man proceeded to shoot himself in the head. He is now being treated by an area hospital.
The man has been identified as a former member of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3. The law enforcement union announced their knowledge of the incident on X.
“We are aware that one of our retired FOP3 members was involved in a shooting at the North Ave. District Court building,” wrote President Mike Mancuso. “We are responding to the homicide alone with our attorneys from SBWD to assist our member.”
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates also issued a statement on the incident, saying via his official X account, that his staff is safe and that the courthouse would be closed for the rest of the day. Bates said his office had no other comment on the shooting as it is an ongoing investigation.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott called the incident a “tragic situation” during the Jan. 31 press conference. He thanked law enforcement for their swift action.
“This again shows that behavioral and mental health is a real and deep issue. We have to continue to do everything we can to deal with it,” said Scott. “This is also another example of how we have to make sure that people who are having these kinds of issues don’t have that easy access to firearms and weapons. We hope that the victim is able to survive, but we again just want to pray for everyone involved.”
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