Latest news with #JuvenileReformAct
CBS News
13-03-2025
- CBS News
4 teens arrested after carjacking 76-year-old woman in Baltimore
Four teens were arrested Wednesday after they carjacked a 76-year-old woman in Baltimore, according to police. Baltimore police responded to the 3200 block of Washington Boulevard on Tuesday, March 11, around 4:47 a.m. for reports of an unarmed carjacking. Once on the scene, officers discovered that a 76-year-old woman had been approached by four males who forced her from her car and fled in her vehicle. With the help of the department's aviation unit, officers found the stolen vehicle on Wednesday, March 13, on I-95 near the Canton Avenue exit. They arrested three 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy. Two of the 15-year-olds and the 16-year-old were taken to the Juvenile Justice Center, where they were charged with robbery and auto theft. The other 15-year-old was taken to central booking, where he was charged with carjacking as an adult, according to police. Violent crime down in Baltimore According to data from Baltimore Police, there have been 144 cases of auto theft in the city so far this year. In 2024, the city saw a major drop in violent crimes, including homicides and non-fatal shootings. On March 3, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott reported that homicides were down 29% compared to that time in 2024, and non-fatal shootings were down 41%. Addressing juvenile crime As violent crime continues to trend downward, leaders have been focused on addressing juvenile crime in the city. During a meeting at the end of 2024, Maryland leaders said they would focus on creating new strategies to address juvenile crime, especially as the legislative session got underway. However, some efforts to address juvenile crime have faced backlash. In January, ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Maryland's Office of the Public Defender called for lawmakers to end the automatic charging of minors as adults, saying the process disproportionately impacts Black and brown children. In 2023, Maryland passed a Juvenile Reform Act that allowed officials to charge children between the ages of 10 and 12 with certain offenses like gun possession and auto theft. Safe Growth, which aims to improve crime hotspots by adding lighting and cameras and preventing illegal dumping.
CBS News
11-02-2025
- CBS News
16-year-old dead after shooting inside Annapolis home, police say
ANNAPOLIS -- A 16-year-old was killed in a shooting inside an Annapolis home on Saturday, Feb. 8, according to police. Officers said they responded to the 100 block of Holeclaw Street around 8 p.m. for the reported shooting, where they found the teen boy suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene, officers said. Man shot on soccer field Saturday's shooting came days after an 18-year-old man was shot by a relative on a soccer field in Annapolis in an unrelated incident. Police said the shooting occurred on Feb. 4 at Wiley Bates Heritage Park which is located behind a senior center and near The Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis. The 18-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his head and taken to a shock trauma center to be treated for his injuries. Police said at the time of the shooting there were about 30 people, including teens, playing soccer on the field. "One witness said they heard a loud pop and saw people scattering, and that's when the victim was discovered," Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said. On Monday, officers said a minor was arrested for shooting the 18-year-old who is a relative. "Sad that, once again, kids have access to guns, sad that it happened at a place that is publicly accessible, sad that people have to deal with disagreements using violence," Annapolis resident Josh Falk said. Crime in Annapolis So far in 2025, there have been at least four victims of gun violence in Annapolis, according to data from the police department. One of those includes a 16-year-old boy who was injured in a shooting on Jan. 24 and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. The city reported 30 instances of gun violence in 2024, including nine shootings and three homicides. Four of those reported shootings left minors injured, according to police data. In 2023, one juvenile was killed in a shooting. In four instances, minors were victims of gun violence in contact shootings, data shows. Maryland has cracked down on juvenile crime in recent years. In 2024, the Juvenile Reform Act went into effect, making it possible for children between the ages of 10 and 12 to be charged with certain offenses like gun possession. The law also allows the state's attorney's office to review cases against minors who are under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services.
