A nice morning gives way to clouds and humidity later, with a chance of evening storms. Rain is possible through tomorrow morning.
+ Did gangs team up to take out Baltimore Police following the death of Freddie Gray? No. According to Homeland Security documents obtained by Vice News, the FBI debunked within hours the alleged threat announced by the Baltimore Police media team during Gray’s funeral on April 27th. The gang threat, along with social media rumors of a violent “purge”, were used by BPD to justify the heavy police presence and public transportation shutdown that met students at Mondawmin Mall – the event that precluded a riot. The DHS documents also reveal that 400 federal agents were deployed in Baltimore during unrest, tasked with protecting key infrastructure like a natural gas storage facility near the harbor.
+ In yet another court filing (there have been plenty), prosecutors cite State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s public announcement of charges against six officers in Gray’s death as providing calm “before the entire city became an armed camp or was burned to the ground.” Previously, the defense filed to have Mosby removed or the charges dropped, arguing that Mosby’s public announcement tainted any potential jury pool against the officers. The defense has also argued that Mosby rushed to charge the officers to pacify unrest.
Tuesday night, police investigating a woman’s suicide at Market Place discovered the body of a 5-month-old boy in her car. The exact chain of events and the cause of death for the boy are yet unknown.
This is the second heartbreaking case of a child found dead in a car this week. Police have charged Wilbert Carter with murder for death of his two-year-old daughter, Leasia Carter, who died after spending 16 hours in a locked car on Monday.
+ Gov. Larry Hogan may announce later today his decision on whether or not to approve building Baltimore’s proposed Red Line light rail project.
+ MTA officials are discussing extending MARC service beyond Perryville to Newark, Delaware.
Retired Baltimore cop Michael Wood, Jr., has been tweeting up a storm of accusations of things he witnessed on the force. “Punting a handcuffed, face down, suspect in the face, after a foot chase. My handcuffs, not my boot or suspect”. Wood has promised to share more details going forward.
