On the evening of August 18, Rosalyn Gross was at home when she received alarming news about her son, Anthony “Chris” Martin, who had been shot at a basketball court in East Baltimore’s Oliver neighborhood. Martin, 36, had been enjoying his usual Sunday game when a dispute over a parking spot involving a motorcycle group hosting a memorial cookout led to gunfire.
Martin was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he succumbed to nine gunshot wounds, leaving behind his 9-year-old son and fiancée.
Although Baltimore has seen a historic drop in homicides and shootings this year, with 201 homicides recorded in 2024—a decrease of 23% from 2023—the impact on grieving families like Gross remains profound. Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the drop in violence but emphasized that any loss is still one too many.
The city’s violence reduction efforts, particularly through its Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), have been credited with contributing to the decline. This strategy focuses on collaboration between police, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety, and the State’s Attorney’s Office to intervene with those at high risk of violence.
Daniel Webster from Johns Hopkins pointed out that the program has shown results in areas with the most implementation. Furthermore, a change in leadership in the state’s attorney’s office has led to a tougher stance on gun crimes, further aiding in the decline.
Police Commissioner Richard Worley also highlighted the success in solving cases, with a 70% clearance rate for homicides in 2024, a significant increase from previous years.
However, despite the positive trends in crime statistics, residents like Gross find it difficult to reconcile the numbers with their personal experiences of loss.
Gross continues to mourn her son’s death, reflecting on the tragedy of his life being cut short over a parking dispute. The pain remains, especially as the holiday season brings into sharper focus the absence of her son, whose presence once lit up family gatherings.
