Baltimore police: 9 dead over Memorial Day weekend

BALTIMORE, May 26 (UPI) -- Still reeling from the racially charged violence after the police-custody death of Freddie Gray, the city of Baltimore has seen an unprecedented number of shootings over the Memorial Day weekend and the month of May.

Baltimore city police said dozens of people were shot, nine fatally, in separate shootings over the long weekend. Police said the violence is happening throughout the city, including west Baltimore, where the April incident between Gray and police began and subsequent protests occurred. Since May 1, 35 people have been fatally shot -- the most since 1999.

"It's deplorable," City Councilman William "Pete" Welch told the Baltimore Sun. "The shootings and killings are all over the city. I don't think any part of the city is immune to this. I've never seen anything like it."

In the past four days alone, Baltimore police responded to a total of 29 shootings -- six on Friday night, seven on Saturday, five on Sunday and 11 by night fall on Monday.

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said he hopes to combat the rising tide of problems by reassigning veteran officers, captains, and commanders to areas where they've built relationships and ensure they have a "visible and consistent presence" in the community.

In a letter to community leaders and elected officials, Batts said the city is "in the midst of a challenging time."

"Please be assured that the Baltimore Police Department is moving aggressively to both address the increase in violence, as well [as] to modernize and better equip ourselves for the future."