Councilwoman Concerned About Harwood Violence

A spate of violence in the Harwood neighborhood is a matter of deep concern for Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who represents parts of that community.

On Saturday, one man was shot and wounded after allegedly at Baltimore police, and on Monday night one man was killed and another injured in what police believe was a running gun battle.

"We have a major problem in that whole neighborhood, Harwood as well as right across the street, and just up the street in the Better Waverly neighborhood," Clarke said. "The knows that we all feel that we need special attention. We’re going to court watch everybody that gets arrested, and I believe the Northern District is making an all out effort to patrol and apprehend in this broader Harwood, Better Waverly neighborhood."

Clarke said when she spoke to officers at the district she didn’t ask why they thought there had been this outbreak of violence, she just told them "to make it stop."

The neighborhood, which sits between Charles Village and just across Greenmount Avenue, has seen bursts of violence in the past.

In July of last year, a then 16-year-old boy was in broad daylight near the intersection of Whiteridge Avenue and Barclay Street. That same month two security guards patrolling the Oak Ridge townhouses in the 2800 block of Matthews street were shot and wounded.

Police eventually Keymo Martin Jr., 17, with several counts of armed robbery and first-degree attempted murder for the security guard shooting.

Earlier this year, Martin plead guilty to armed robbery, attempted first degree murder, handgun in use of committing a crime, according to electronic court records.