On the evening of May 15, 2015, a 29-year-old Black/African American man named Wade McKinley Jr. Purvey was fatally shot in Baltimore, Maryland. The incident occurred on the 2400 block of East Hoffman Street. When first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Purvey with gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The death of Wade Purvey, who was an employee at the local airport, added to a particularly violent period in Baltimore, with multiple other shootings reported on the same day. His murder became one of many that contributed to the city's rising homicide rate that year. The investigation into his death was met with significant challenges, a common issue in the city at the time. Authorities struggled to find witnesses who were willing to come forward with information, and they had difficulty gathering enough actionable evidence to move forward with the case.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, no arrests were made, leaving his family and community without answers. The case highlighted the ongoing struggles with gun violence that plagued the city. As of late 2025, the investigation into the homicide of Wade McKinley Jr. Purvey had not publicly resulted in the identification or arrest of any suspects. His death serves as a stark reminder of the numerous unsolved murders in Baltimore and the profound impact of gun violence on its communities.
