Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

 Balmer Sun, Homicides top cause of ‘unexpected’ childhood deaths in Baltimore, report finds

The leading cause of “unexpected or unusual” death among children in Baltimore is homicide, a tragic conclusion of the latest five-year report from city officials that explores how children die.

There were 208 such deaths among children under age 18 in the latest period ending in 2020, and the majority were among Black residents and other nonwhite groups, according to the Child Fatality Review Report.

A panel of officials led by the health department have long met to discuss the circumstances of each death, and the report is the sum of the panel’s conclusions. The report also outlines action being taken or planned to reduce the fatalities.

“As a city, we continue to lose too many of our young people to violence and neglect. These are children and teenagers who will never be able to grow up and realize their full potential,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a statement.

While it doesn't admit it openly, this is likely driven by drug related gang activity among older teens. The gangs have no age requirement, and in fact, seek to recruit younger members who are far more likely to be treated leniently by Baltimore's already lenient criminal justice system.