In the late afternoon of August 11, 2023, tragedy struck at a busy intersection in northeast Baltimore. Antonio Lee, a 19-year-old Black male, was working as a squeegee worker in the 1800 block of 33rd Street when the sound of gunfire suddenly rang out around 4:45 p.m. Officers who were alerted by a ShotSpotter system arrived to find a chaotic scene and discovered Lee suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services rushed the young man to a nearby hospital, but his
injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead. Shortly after, another 19-year-old man arrived at a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, telling authorities he had also been shot at the same location. The shooting is believed to have stemmed from a dispute between rival groups from different parts of east Baltimore. The incident did not take place in one of the city's designated 'no-squeegee zones.'
Antonio Lee was a young man with dreams of a life beyond the streets of Baltimore. He had spoken to friends and family about moving to a safer city, like Atlanta or Florida, and was constantly thinking of ways to earn enough money to make that happen. He had worked at McDonald's and was considering taking culinary classes to pursue his love for cooking and baking. He was also enrolled in an anti-violence program through a local nonprofit organization. His life, however, had been marked by tragedy, having lost a brother to gun violence and a sister to cancer.
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with Antonio Lee's murder. The Baltimore Police Department has not released any information about potential suspects. The investigation into his death remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.
