Nationwide — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott confronted a FOX45 reporter during a press conference after a shooting in East Baltimore left a 3-year-old boy and six other people injured. He urged those responsible to turn themselves in and made clear that Baltimore’s recent drop in violent crime did not make the shooting any less serious. The mayor focused on the young victim as he addressed the shooting and called on the suspects to surrender. He also urged anyone who knew the people responsible to help police find them.
“There is no way to reclaim humanity after doing that,” Scott said. “Turn yourself in, because everybody in the god—n city should be looking for you.” He went further, telling anyone whose family member was involved to bring that person to the police. According to The Daily Beast, the conversation then became tense when Keith Daniels, a general assignment reporter for FOX45, asked Scott about his repeated statements on violence. Daniels noted that Scott had made similar comments after previous shootings and questioned whether they were making a difference. Scott immediately pushed back. “Keith, I knew that you were gonna ask some dumba–, ridiculous question tonight,” he said before turning the conversation back to the injured child.
Daniels attempted to continue with his question, but Scott said the focus should remain on the people who were hurt rather than on how his comments might be viewed. “I’m worried about a three-year-old child being shot,” he said. “You’re worried about perception and some stories you’ve gotten.” Scott, a 42-year-old Democrat, became Baltimore’s mayor in 2020 and is the youngest person to hold the office in more than a century.
Baltimore has seen a significant decline in violent crime in recent years. City figures show that homicides dropped about 59% over the five years through 2025, while nonfatal shootings fell by about 57%. The downward trend continued into 2026, with Baltimore police reporting a 23% decline in homicides during the first six months compared with the same period the previous year.
Despite those reductions, the East Baltimore shooting highlighted the violence that continues to affect residents. The seven victims included a child, bringing renewed attention to the people still being injured by gunfire. “One is too d–n many for me,” Scott said. Police continued investigating the shooting and had not announced an arrest or motive at the time of the reports. Authorities also asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators or submit an anonymous tip.