In the spring of 2008, the life of Anthony Lamont Izzard, a 25-year-old Black man from Baltimore, Maryland, was cut short by violence. On April 11, Izzard was shot and killed in a triple shooting that occurred at the corner of West Lexington and North Mount streets. The incident marked another grim statistic in a city grappling with gun violence. Known in his neighborhood as "King Losta" and "Poppie," Izzard was the youngest of thirteen children and was a father to two of his own.
The tragedy surrounding Izzard's death was compounded by a shocking eruption of violence at his funeral service ten days later. On April 21, as approximately 300 mourners gathered inside the Unity United Methodist Church on North Stricker Street to pay their final respects, a gunfight broke out on the street. At least eight gunshots rang out, sending attendees running for cover and plunging the solemn occasion into chaos. When the shooting ceased, two men were found wounded. One of the victims would later succumb to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital, while the other was left in serious condition.
In the immediate aftermath of the funeral shooting, Baltimore police disclosed that they were investigating possible gang connections and whether the violence was linked to Izzard's murder. However, authorities faced challenges in their investigation, noting that there were few witnesses as most people were inside the church at the time of the shooting. A police spokesman stated that while it was safe to assume the funeral brought about the violent activity, the exact extent of the connection was unknown.
Despite the public outcry and the shocking nature of the crimes, no arrests were ever publicly announced in connection with the murder of Anthony Lamont Izzard. The case, along with the subsequent deadly shooting at his funeral, remains unsolved. The absence of suspects or any movement in the case has left a lingering sense of injustice and unanswered questions for the family and community that mourned not only the loss of a young man but also the peace and sanctity of a final farewell.
