Five people were hit -- and one killed -- when gunfire erupted near a shopping center in northwest Baltimore Friday afternoon.
The incident occurred 5400 block of Reisterstown Rd. at about 3 p.m.
“We’re fortunate that we’re not talking about any children out here. … there is a school several blocks up the street," Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith said. “This is a brazen act at 3 o’clock. … It’s a crowded shopping center. There are always cars in the shopping center.”
Smith urged witnesses to come forward.
“We want the community to understand, it could’ve been one of your kids out here," Smith said.
While the incident occurred on a sidewalk near the Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center, Baltimore police have extended the crime scene the length of the shopping center parking lot.
Baltimore police have so far not released a description of the victims. Smith could only confirm that they were adults. The four surviving victims were listed in stable condition.
An officer who was already on patrol in the area called in the shooting.
“This is the frustrating part for all of us… They’ve been out here. They’ve been in these communities," Smith said. "It’s very possible that the bad guy saw our officer.”
The intersection and beyond were blocked off for hours as police investigated.
"It breaks my heart. ... I have tears is my eyes because I know it was our young children. Our young men probably," Lonnie Spruill said as he found his way around the crime scene Friday night.
Raju Acharya left work late after he spent the last few hours of his workday on lockdown. He works as a pharmacist in the shopping center.
"It was a little bit scary because I had to lock the door because I was still seeing that there were talking that suspects were around here," Acharya said.
Stay with ABC2 News for updates.
Confirmed Shooting: 5400 block Reisterstown Road. PIO responding to the scene.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) October 2, 2015
