A recent mass shooting in Baltimore has left residents deeply concerned about escalating gang activity and violence, particularly among young people. A grandmother who aided a teenage girl injured during the incident shared her perspective with the Associated Press, expressing her sadness that guns seem to be the only thing many teens understand. The shooting, which occurred at a holiday block party, tragically claimed the lives of two young adults, Aaliyah Gonzalez, 18, and Kylis Fagbemi, 20, and injured 28 others, many of whom were under 18.

The witness, Charlene Bowie, described the chaotic scene before the shooting, noting the large crowd of primarily teenagers and the escalating disorder as the party progressed. She emphasized the heartbreaking reality that many of these young people haven't had a chance to truly experience life, their world dominated by gun violence. Bowie herself intervened by calling the police and urging her granddaughter to come inside. Shortly after, shots rang out, with a bullet striking her air conditioner and a fragment injuring her granddaughter, thankfully not seriously.

Amidst the chaos, Bowie found a young girl shot and lying on her doorstep. Using a rag, she fashioned a tourniquet and worked to keep the girl calm. Bowie's personal experience with gun violence, having lost both her son and grandson to shootings, adds another layer of tragedy to the event. The incident is currently under investigation, with authorities meticulously examining the extensive crime scene. While the motive remains unclear, acting police commissioner Richard Worley indicated a belief that multiple shooters were involved.

This incident comes against a backdrop of nineteen Baltimore public school students being killed by gun violence in the past year, further fueling parental anxieties about school safety. Governor Wes Moore expressed his condolences and concern over the tragic event. The investigation continues, and no arrests have been made as of yet.