Baltimore residents gathered for a vigil Thursday to honor those who have lost their lives to the city’s gun violence as Baltimore breaks new homicide records.
The city recently reached 343 homicides for 2017 so far, breaking the city’s per capita record on killings, reports CBS Local Baltimore. In response, hundreds of people stood outside the Baltimore War Memorial Building, with some carrying signs with an inspirational word for the new year.
“I completely respect having a vigil in memory of the people that have been lost, but where are the other ideas? I think it’s absolute irony that this is being held in the War Memorial, because this place is a horror zone,” said Tina Forrester, a widow.
Previously, the highest per capita rate for homicides in Baltimore was 55.35 homicides per 100,000 resident, while 2017’s new record is 55.8 per 100,000 resident. Mayor Catherine Marie Pugh previously released a crime fighting plan that takes a more holistic approach to cracking down on the gun violence. Her plan includes making community college free for students, hiring more police officers and working to train officers better.
“We know that they are suffering, and we do no want to infringe upon that pain that they are already suffering, but more importantly, we want to lift them up,” Pugh said of those who attended the funeral.
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