BALTIMORE _ A 13-year-old boy was fatally shot and several others _ four children and a 19-year-old man _ were injured during a shooting at a Rosedale shopping center, Baltimore County police said Sunday.
Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said 13-year-old Rickie Forehand was pronounced dead at the scene as police found him and five other shooting victims in the parking lot of the shopping center in the 6200 block of Kenwood Avenue just after midnight.
"This level of violence is unacceptable. We had children that were shot last night," Hyatt said. "And an adolescent lost his life for some senseless and unknown reason."
In addition to Forehand, Hyatt said two 12-year-old boys, a 14-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man were all injured in the shooting. All are expected to survive their injuries and one has been released from the hospital, Hyatt said.
The shooting took place after a confrontation following an event at the Triple Threat Elite Dance Team studio, Hyatt said.
"As the victims left the event, they were approached by several suspects on a parking lot," Hyatt said. "An altercation ensued and then multiple shots were fired toward the group."
She said the shooting appeared tied to the event and that there isn't an active threat to the greater community. She did not elaborate on neither the nature of the event or the motive behind the shooting.
County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. called the shooting "shocking and horrifying" and encouraged residents with information to speak to police.
"It has no place in our community and we refuse to allow it to be normalized," Olszewski said.
