There were 95 homicides in Baltimore in 2009 as of yesterday, compared with 82 at the same time last year.
A man was found dead from a gunshot wound to the upper body in the Brooklyn area yesterday morning, near the Anne Arundel County line, the 12th killing in 11 days.
Among the victims were Joseph Woah-Tee, a Liberian immigrant who hoped to run for president of his home country, who was killed at his Pen-Lucy social club in an attempted robbery, and an 18-year-old woman who was shot in the back of the head.
At a rally in Northwest Baltimore about 50 people listened last night as speakers made pleas to stop the violence.
A 26-year-old man who asked not to be identified said the killings stem from wars over drug turf and kids who are left to fend for themselves.
Another man, Lauren Taylor, 31, said youths are disaffected because of a lack of family structure. "There's nobody you can lean on," he said.
"Our city is in trouble. Blood is streaming in the streets every day," said Anthony McCarthy, a former City Hall spokesman who hosts a radio show. "We've grown so cynical. We've lost our way."
Where Baltimore ranks
Homicide rate among cities with 100,000 population or more (rate per 100,000 residents):
New Orleans: 64
St. Louis: 47
Baltimore: 37
Birmingham, Ala.: 36
Jackson, Miss.: 36
Detroit: 34
Baton Rouge, La.: 30
Source: FBI annual crime report
