Critical Condition

A water rescue of four people from a boat offshore from Hawkins Point in Baltimore late Sunday night resulted in three people being taken to area hospitals, two of them in critical condition, the United States Coast Guard said Monday. The rescue occurred near the south end of the Key Bridge after a local fisherman called the Coast Guard about 9:45 p.m. to report a 40-foot recreational boat had crashed into concrete pilings in the water, said Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Henise.

Eight people were shot — including six in two triple shootings — Thursday night in Baltimore, an "intolerable" burst of violence that killed three and which police said would spur extra patrols going into Memorial Day weekend. Hoping to avoid a replay of the 2010 Memorial Day weekend, during which nine people were killed, police said they would move some officers into patrol from administrative assignments and specialized units to beef up their presence downtown and in neighborhoods where the shootings took place Thursday.

Eight people were shot — including six in two triple shootings — Thursday night in Baltimore, an "intolerable" burst of violence that killed three and which police said would spur extra patrols going into Memorial Day weekend. Hoping to avoid a replay of the 2010 Memorial Day weekend, during which nine people were killed, police said they would move some officers into patrol from administrative assignments and specialized units to beef up their presence downtown and in neighborhoods where the shootings took place Thursday.

A water rescue of four people from a boat offshore from Hawkins Point in Baltimore late Sunday night resulted in three people being taken to area hospitals, two of them in critical condition, the United States Coast Guard said Monday. The rescue occurred near the south end of the Key Bridge after a local fisherman called the Coast Guard about 9:45 p.m. to report a 40-foot recreational boat had crashed into concrete pilings in the water, said Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Henise.

Baltimore police are investigating four homicides and a nonfatal shooting that occurred Sunday during a violent weekend that also left a 36-year-old woman in critical condition after her car was shot at as she sat at a stoplight. Police said they believe at least two of the incidents are connected and that they have "persons of interest" in at least three of the cases. "There's no question it was a violent weekend," said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "We're looking at the motives and connections, but we have to pause and look at the greater picture.

A 20-year-old man was in critical condition after he was stabbed in West Baltimore on Monday night, according to Baltimore police. An officer responded to a report of a shooting at Rosedale and Presstman streets at 8:14 p.m., police said. The officer found the victim with a severe horizontal cut in his abdominal area, police said. He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where doctors performed surgery, police said. - Liz F. Kay

A woman was critically wounded in a shooting Sunday afternoon in Northeast Baltimore and a man soon after was detained for questioning, according to city police. The woman, who was in her 20s, was shot multiple times in the 1800 block of Abbotston St., near Clifton Park. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was in critical but stable condition, police said. Her name was not released. While investigating in the area, police officers found a man who fit the description of the suspect, in the 1500 block of E. 29 t h St. Police are questioning the man, who has not been charged.

A 44-year-old man was in critical condition after he was punched and fell, a Baltimore police spokesman said. Security guards were escorting Lee McCoy, 44, from the Baltimore Behavioral Health Center on the 1000 block of W. Pratt St. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday because he was intoxicated, said the spokesman, Kevin Hagan. As they passed another patient, Carrell Andrews, 38, McCoy pretended to throw a punch at him, Hagan said. Andrews then punched McCoy one time, apparently knocking him unconscious, and McCoy struck his head on the floor, according to Hagan.

A 14-year-old boy was in critical condition Tuesday after he was accidentally shot in the head while visiting a home in the Lutherville- Timonium area, according to a Baltimore County Police spokesman. The incident, reported at 11:40 p.m. Saturday in a house on Belden Court off Rutledge Road, involved a 12-year-old girl, who lives in the house, and her 14-year-old cousin, said the spokesman, Cpl. Mike Hill. "Two juveniles got a hold of a handgun, and it discharged," Hill said.

Two teenagers are in critical condition after being struck by a car Tuesday night near the intersection of Governor Ritchie Highway and Earleigh Heights Road, police said Wednesday. At about 8:45 p.m., a 17-year-old girl from Pasadena and 19-year-old Sean William Snyder of Severna Park were hit by a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier that was traveling south in the 100 block of Ritchie Highway, police said. Neither of the teens were in the crosswalk when they were struck, police said, and they were both wearing dark-colored clothing.

A 43-year-old man who police say was stabbed more than 20 times last month by his stepson during an argument over money died late last week from his injuries, according to police and court records. Police say George Stevenson was able to call for help, and responding officers found him bleeding profusely in the living room of his apartment in the 1400 block of Limit Ave., suffering from stab wounds to his arm, chest and back. Stevenson said he had been stabbed with an unknown object by his stepson, 16-year-old Galen Stevenson, who then fled on foot, police said.

Baltimore police are investigating four homicides and a nonfatal shooting that occurred Sunday during a violent weekend that also left a 36-year-old woman in critical condition after her car was shot at as she sat at a stoplight. Police said they believe at least two of the incidents are connected and that they have "persons of interest" in at least three of the cases. "There's no question it was a violent weekend," said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "We're looking at the motives and connections, but we have to pause and look at the greater picture.

ON THE SITE... Governor's crime chief to depart : Kristin Mahoney, one of Gov. Martin O'Malley's longest-serving aides, is leaving her role as head of the governor's crime prevention office for a job in the U.S. justice department. She said her move is unrelated to the resignations of Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III and Sheryl Goldstein, a crime adviser to the mayor, on Thursday. Body found on elementary school grounds in city :  Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School in Northwest Baltimore is closed Friday after a body of a young man was discovered on the edge of school grounds Friday morning.

Gun violence penetrated several city neighborhoods Tuesday and resulted in several critical injuries. Four men were shot and a fifth man appears to have taken his life, according to police. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 900 block of Iris Ave. in the East Baltimore neighborhood of Orangeville to find a man dead from a gunshot wound to the head, according to Sgt. Valencia Nock, a police spokeswoman. Autopsy results are pending, but police believe the wound was self-inflicted.

A young boy is in critical condition Wednesday night after being hit by a dirt bike in Brooklyn, police said. Around 6:30 p.m., the 6-year-old was standing in a field along the 4200 block of 10th St. when he was struck, according to a statement from Detective Jeremy Silbert, a spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department. The driver stopped briefly after hitting the boy but then fled, he said. The bike was red and black and had a two-digit number on the side, Silbert said.

A 21-year-old man who was shot multiple times in the leg and abdomen shortly before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Chase Street neighborhood of East Baltimore remained in critical condition in an area hospital Thursday, police said. The man was found in an alley near the 2500 block of East Chase Street and North Luzerne Avenue, police said. Police had no suspects and knew of no motives, but were continuing the investigation. Officers were also called to the scene of another shooting shortly after 12:30 a.m on the city's west side.

A man who was shot multiple times in the leg and torso shortly before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Biddle Street neighborhood of Baltimore remained in critical condition in an area hospital late Wednesday night, police said. The man was shot near East Chase Street and North Luzerne Avenue, said Detective Donny Moses, a police spokesman. Police had no suspects and knew of no motives as of late Wednesday, when detectives from the Eastern District remained at the scene investigating, Moses said.

A man who was shot in 1997 died earlier this year from his injuries and will be counted as a homicide victim this year, while police identified a man fatally shot to death in East Baltimore this week.  Police say Leslie Johnson, 36, died January 30 at Mercy Hospital from complications from injuries from a shooting on April 14, 1997 in South Baltimore's Brooklyn neighborhood. The shooting occurred in the 800 block of Jack St.; here's the account from The Sun at the time: "Southern District      Shooting: A man armed with a shotgun shot another man in the back and a leg in the  800  block of  Jack   St . yesterday.