A community is living in fear, and city police say that fear is justified.
About three weeks ago, two women were raped in separate incidents in East Baltimore. Then earlier this week, a woman's body was found not far from the scenes of those rapes.
Police held a meeting with residents Thursday night to share information with residents, and warn them to be careful.
DNA results show that the two confirmed rapes were committed by two different men, and investigators still don't know whether the woman who was murdered this week was also raped. They do know that women in East Baltimore need to be even more careful than usual, as they hope to prevent another attack.
‘I'm not here to sugar-coat anything, she was brutally attacked,’ said Maj. Melvin Russell, the commander of the City Police’s Eastern District, in telling the crowd about the first attack. The victim of that rape is still in the hospital.
The second, happened near the Old Town Mall. But police have released composite sketches of what they believe are two different men. The DNA taken from the crime scenes also does not match any known suspects in the city's DNA data base.
Now -- a third brutal crime. A woman's naked body was found Tuesday behind a convenience store, just blocks from both earlier attacks. ‘I haven't slept in two nights. I pray, but I’m still afraid,’ said Gail Smith, who lives near the scenes of all the attacks.
Police say they're on 'high alert.’ Nearly 30 officers have been added to the area overnight. They’re walking the streets, and calling on residents to stay off them. ‘What I'm saying is from midnight until that sun comes back up, unless you absolutely have to be in the streets do not go out. I'm not trying to put fear in you but we just need to be safe,’ Maj. Russell said.
Other city agencies are also involved -- hoping to head off another attack before it can happen again. ‘Where there are vacant buildings, where there are abandoned cars, where there are high grass lots that need to be cleared, so that those won't be places that people can use,’ said City Mayor Sheila Dixon.
If you live in East Baltimore and you have to be out walking overnight, to a bus stop or anywhere else, police say they will literally come to your home and escort you to where you are going.
They say with so many officers flooding the area right now they will be able to do that. Maj. Russell recommended that you call the Eastern District at (410) 396-2433.
