Following an early-morning shooting in the Edgewood neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore, a 17-year-old girl is recuperating from a gunshot wound, and a 17-year-old boy is in critical condition.

Southwest Baltimore, MD – April 28, 2025 — A quiet morning in the Edgewood neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore was shattered by gunfire early this morning, leaving two teenagers—both 17 years old—hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The shooting, which occurred around 4:30 AM, has raised concerns about the ongoing violence plaguing the city and the safety of its youth.

According to the Baltimore Police Department, officers were called to the scene on the 700 block of Edgewood Street, responding to reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they discovered a young man and a young woman, both suffering from gunshot wounds. The girl was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the boy was rushed to another medical facility in critical condition.

The identities of the victims have not been released pending family notification, but investigators are working diligently to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting. At this time, no arrests have been made, and police are urging the public to come forward with any information that may assist in the investigation.

The Edgewood neighborhood, typically a residential area known for its close-knit community, has been rattled by the violence that occurred early this morning. Local residents expressed disbelief and concern over the events, which are just the latest in a string of shootings that have troubled Baltimore in recent months.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, and we’ve always had our problems, but this? This is different,” said Samuel Cook, a longtime resident of Edgewood. “Kids are getting caught up in things they shouldn’t. It’s heartbreaking, honestly.”

Edgewood, like many neighborhoods in Southwest Baltimore, has struggled with crime in recent years. While the area remains predominantly residential, it is located in proximity to some of the city’s most vulnerable districts, where drug-related activity and violence are unfortunately commonplace.

“It’s a tragic situation,” said Councilwoman Mia P. Young, who represents Southwest Baltimore. “Our young people deserve better than this. We must take action to prevent more innocent lives from being lost.”

Councilwoman Young has long advocated for stronger community engagement, youth programs, and intervention strategies aimed at curbing violence in the area. She noted that while efforts have been made to improve safety, incidents like this highlight the need for continued focus on crime prevention.

“This is a call for all of us to come together and address the root causes of violence,” Young said. “We must find ways to engage our youth before they fall into the cycle of crime that can ultimately take their lives away.”

Baltimore’s youth have been disproportionately affected by violence in recent years. According to the Baltimore Police Department’s annual crime reports, shootings involving teenagers have been a persistent problem in the city. The early-morning shooting in Edgewood is a stark reminder of the challenges young people face in Baltimore’s most at-risk neighborhoods.

Research shows that teenagers growing up in areas with high crime rates are at greater risk of being involved in violence, either as victims or perpetrators. Lack of access to quality education, economic opportunities, and safe spaces for recreation contributes to the cycle of violence. In a city where systemic inequality and poverty persist, the consequences of these disparities are felt most acutely by young people.

Dr. Lisa Jameson, a sociologist at the University of Baltimore, has studied the impacts of youth violence in the city. She argues that the rising tide of violence among teenagers is directly tied to a lack of resources for young people in underserved communities.

“Many of these young people are growing up in neighborhoods where the options are limited, and too often, the only sense of belonging or empowerment they find is through involvement in gangs or criminal activity,” Dr. Jameson said. “We need to invest in community resources that provide young people with alternatives to violence.”

Local initiatives, such as mentorship programs and youth employment opportunities, have been shown to reduce the likelihood of young people becoming involved in violent crime. However, these programs often face funding shortages and are unable to reach every teenager who may need support.

The tragic shooting in Edgewood only emphasizes the urgency of these interventions. Experts agree that without increased investment in mental health services, educational opportunities, and safe spaces for young people, incidents like the one that unfolded this morning will continue to haunt Baltimore’s neighborhoods.

Gun violence remains a pervasive issue in Baltimore, and this latest shooting is part of a larger crisis that has plagued the city for years. According to the Gun Violence Archive, Baltimore consistently ranks among the cities with the highest rates of gun-related homicides in the United States. In 2024, the city recorded over 300 homicides, many of which involved firearms.

Experts point to a combination of factors driving this epidemic, including the prevalence of illegal firearms, the spread of gang violence, and the ongoing drug trade. Baltimore’s relatively high homicide rate, paired with a significant rise in non-fatal shootings, underscores the city’s struggle with violence.

While law enforcement continues to pursue initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence, including more aggressive policing and collaboration with federal agencies, the situation remains dire. There is growing recognition that more holistic solutions are necessary—approaches that not only target offenders but also provide opportunities for prevention.

One of the critical areas for reform is access to firearms. While Maryland has relatively strict gun laws compared to other states, illegal firearms continue to flood the streets. Baltimore’s proximity to neighboring states with more lenient gun laws, such as Virginia, has made it a hotspot for illegal gun trafficking.

In addition to law enforcement strategies, community-driven efforts to reduce gun violence have been gaining traction. Groups such as Baltimore Ceasefire and Operation Hope are working to bring residents together and foster a culture of peace. These organizations focus on non-violent conflict resolution, gun buyback programs, and community outreach.

“We’ve seen time and again that violence doesn’t stop with just the police,” said Shaquille Allen, a leader with Operation Hope. “It takes a village to turn things around. When communities come together, they can make a real difference.”

While investigations into the shooting continue, the focus remains on the recovery of the victims. The 17-year-old girl, who was shot in the lower body, is expected to survive her injuries and is currently recovering at a local hospital. Her family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and their representatives have not provided any additional details.

The young man, however, remains in critical condition, with doctors working to stabilize him following multiple gunshot wounds. He was transferred to a trauma center, where specialists are monitoring his condition closely. Family members have rallied around him, waiting anxiously for updates on his recovery.

For both of these teenagers, their lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence. The physical and emotional scars they will carry may last far longer than the immediate trauma they experienced this morning. Their families, too, will be forced to grapple with the aftermath of this shooting, which has already caused deep pain and fear within the Edgewood community.

The incident also has broader implications for the youth of Baltimore. While it remains unclear whether this shooting was a targeted act of violence or a random event, many fear that it is another sign of the deepening crisis of youth violence in the city.

As the investigation continues and the victims focus on their recovery, the larger conversation about violence in Baltimore continues to unfold. Law enforcement officials have vowed to leave no stone unturned as they work to bring those responsible for the shooting to justice. Meanwhile, community leaders are calling for more action from local and state governments to address the root causes of violence and invest in solutions that will give young people the opportunities they deserve.

“It’s not enough to respond to violence once it happens,” said Councilwoman Young. “We need proactive solutions that provide young people with safe spaces, jobs, and mentorship. That’s how we break the cycle.”

In the coming days and weeks, there will be more discussions about the steps Baltimore must take to ensure that incidents like the shooting in Edgewood are not repeated. However, until these efforts bear fruit, the residents of Southwest Baltimore—and the city as a whole—will continue to grapple with the harsh reality of life in a city struggling to cope with gun violence.

For now, the community of Edgewood is left to heal, hoping that the young victims of this terrible tragedy will recover and that their experience serves as a catalyst for change in a city desperate for peace.