A 12-year-old girl was fatally shot after a disagreement over a car park space escalated.
The child was killed shortly after 6pm EDT (11pm BST) on Saturday, having become caught in the crossfire of two men police say were allegedly arguing over parking their cars at a park where children were playing American football.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley has confirmed the force is searching for two suspects, ages 23 and 28.
It is believed that two males walked to local hospitals, seeking treatment for injuries seemingly related to the incident that night, while responders were on-scene. They were reported to be in a stable condition.
No arrests have been made yet.
Speaking at a press conference, Worley said: ‘What we know is there was some type of argument between two cowards.
‘They both opened fire on each other. In the crossfire, a 12-year-old little girl, who was probably down there watching football, was shot and killed.’
The girl, who hasn’t been publicly named, was not the target of the shooting, Worley stated.
Police also found a woman with gunshot wounds upon arriving at the scene in the 1200 block of North Franklintown Road.
The 25-year-old female was transported to an area hospital.
Additionally, police told People that a fourth victim, a 35-year-old woman, ‘walked into an area hospital seeking treatment for a graze wound to the back’.
They are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward while enquiries continue.
It is currently unclear how many bullets were fired.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also expressed ‘disgust’ at the behaviour of the ‘so-called men’: ‘Two grown men got into an argument, and now this baby is gone. We never should have to say something like that.
‘What happened out here today is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.’
Mark Brown, coach of the Charm City Buccaneers youth football league, further explained to NBC affiliate WBAL-TV that gunfire broke out while they were playing.
‘Some miscellaneous outsiders caused this situation,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t us.’
Brown continued: ‘It was a beautiful day, homecoming; there was food, vendors… and next thing you know, pandemonium.
‘[In] 29 years, Charm City football has never experienced anything like this.’
‘This happened over a parking spot,’ he added in disbelief. ‘It was avoidable.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
MORE: Yoga guru ‘placed his hands’ on students’ breasts for ‘purification therapy’
MORE: Murder arrest after woman in 40s found dead in Norfolk village outside Sandringham
MORE: Christa Pike ‘may never recover’ from botched lethal injections, lawyers say