In the early morning hours of July 2, 2023, what was meant to be a joyous community celebration in the Brooklyn Homes area of South Baltimore turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy. Twenty-year-old Kylis Fagbemi, a Black male, was among those gathered for the annual Brooklyn Day block party on Gretna Court. The festive atmosphere was shattered at approximately 12:35 a.m. when gunfire erupted, indiscriminately tearing through the crowd.
In the ensuing panic, it was discovered that numerous people had been struck by bullets.
First responders arrived to a harrowing scene with multiple victims. Fagbemi was critically injured and rushed to a local hospital, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries. Another partygoer, 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez, was pronounced deceased at the scene. In total, 30 people were shot in what is considered the largest mass shooting in Baltimore's history. The numerous other victims, ranging in age from 13 to 32, sustained various injuries, with several listed in critical condition in the immediate aftermath. Fagbemi, known affectionately as 'Mooka,' was a forklift operator with aspirations of becoming a traveling ultrasound technician and was a father to a daughter.
The investigation into the mass shooting led to several arrests. In the days and weeks that followed the incident, authorities identified and apprehended multiple suspects believed to be involved. A 17-year-old male was taken into custody and charged with offenses including possession of a firearm by a minor and reckless endangerment. Later, police arrested an 18-year-old, Aaron Brown, and a 14-year-old male. They faced more severe charges, including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder. Investigators believe there were more than ten shooters involved in the incident and have continued to seek justice for the victims and their families. The motive for the shooting has been a central part of the ongoing investigation, as the community grapples with the senseless violence that claimed the lives of Kylis Fagbemi and Aaliyah Gonzalez and left many others wounded.
