Muggy, highs in the low 90s, maybe a storm later. Sunny and humid again tomorrow.
The first pre-trial hearing in the case against six Baltimore Police officers in the death of Freddie Gray takes place this morning at 9:30.
Here’s what’s happening: Judge Barry Glenn Williams will hear arguments on whether charges should be dismissed due to ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ by State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, whether Mosby’s prosecution team should removed from the case, and whether the officers should be put on trial individually or jointly. The hearing will likely be done within a couple hours (no cameras are allowed – the Baltimore Sun will keep a live blog here). The charged officers have waived their right to appear in court for the pre-trial hearings. Judge Williams is not required to rule today on any of the pre-trial motions.
The Baltimore People’s Power Assembly plans to demonstrate outside of the courthouse this morning. There are no road closures in effect, but officials are warning about the potential for heavy downtown traffic today. (Cue irrational panic in your favorite neighborhood Facebook group.)
Monday’s stabbing victim has died from his injuries, and 28-year-old Melvin Russell, son of Baltimore Police Lt. Col Melvin Russell, is charged with the murder. Police say that Russell fatally stabbed his roommate during a fight. State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has referred the case to Baltimore County prosecutors, citing a personal ties to the Russell family.
Early Tuesday, a 29-year-old man was shot and killed in west Baltimore’s Harlem Park neighborhood, marking September’s first homicide.
What if the school year started and nobody showed up? At Maritime Industries Academy High School in Cherry Hill, only 43 of 185 students showed up on Monday. Tuesday was slightly better – 60 kids showed up. Officials say they’re making home visits and trying to contact parents of the absent enrollees. Maritime relocated for this school year, now sharing a building with New Era Academy.
An early morning fire in south Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighbor has killed a man and woman in their 60s. Firefighters were called the house on the 800 block of Pontiac Ave. around 1:20am. No word yet on a cause for the fire.
Try to take your mind off the Orioles’ current collapse: 20 years later, Baltimore magazine checks in with Cal Ripken Jr. about the day he broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record. Last night, the O’s commemorated Ripken’s accomplishment – but maybe not with their play.