Updated: 10:18 PM EDT Jul 1, 2021
A Safe Streets Cherry Hill outreach worker was fatally shot Thursday evening, Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement.According to Scott's statement, the Safe Streets worker was identified as 44-year-old Kenyell Wilson. Baltimore police said Wilson drove himself to Harbor Hospital for treatment after he was shot. He died a short time later.Investigators said they have been unable to determine where in the city the shooting happened.Scott said in his statement: "Safe Streets has a special place in my heart and I consider the Violence Interrupters who bravely serve this program as a part of my family. Tonight, our brother Kenyell Wilson became a victim of the gun violence he worked every day to prevent. I am deeply saddened and angered that 'Benny's' life was taken in a weak cowardly act. I have spoken with Commissioner Harrison and directed him to make apprehending the individual or individuals responsible for taking the life of one of our prime examples of changing your life a top priority. I ask that you keep Kenyell's family and his Safe Streets family in your prayers and reflect on ways that you can continue the work of our fallen soldier in your own community. My administration will continue to support Safe Streets and community-based violence interventions like it. We will not be deterred from doing so and will further invest in these interventions that work and will continue to be central to my comprehensive strategy to reduce violence in Baltimore."Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement also released a statement: "The MONSE and extended Safe Streets family are devastated by this senseless loss of life. As someone who turned their life around to do the work of curing Cherry Hill of violence, 'Benny' epitomized redemption. While he has transitioned physically, his light will never leave us and it guides us as we continue the critical work of interrupting violence in our neighborhoods."The fatal shooting comes just months after another Safe Streets worker was killed.Dante Barksdale was shot and killed outside the Douglas Homes in January. One man is accused of killing him.Baltimore police want anyone who knows anything about this latest deadly shooting to call them at 410-396-2100. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.This report will be updated.