Baltimore police arrest man in connection with death of man pulled from harbor water

Baltimore homicide detectives have arrested a man in connection with the death of a man pulled from the waters of Baltimore's harbor on Sunday afternoon. 

Police announced Monday they had arrested 36-year-old James Fitzsimmons of Parkville, Maryland. The arrest came after an investigation into a fight that resulted in 37-year-old James Britt of Baltimore being allegedly pushed by Fitzsimmons into the water in the city's Harbor East neighborhood. 

Baltimore police and fire crews responded shortly after 3 p.m. for reports of a drowning. Dive crews rescued Britt from the water and transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Physical altercation led to death and arrest

Investigators said the two men were involved in a physical altercation in an alley behind the 700 block of S. Eden Street. In court documents, police said Britt began to retreat across Lancaster Street toward the water.

They said Fitzsimmons followed Britt and pushed him into the water "as Britt retreated from Fitzsimmons."

Investigators said Britt's girlfriend was on scene during the incident. The suspect admitted to being in a fight with the victim, but said Britt jumped into the water on his own.

During an interview with police, Fitzsimmons said the girlfriend indicated Britt couldn't swim, to which Fitzsimmons replied, "Oh well." He said he then walked away.

Police said security video showed Fitzsimmons shove the victim into the water.

Fitzsimmons was taken into custody and booked into jail. He has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and assault. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 410-396-2100.

Baltimore mayor, neighbors react to police response

Mayor Brandon Scott spoke about the incident Monday, saying it could have been avoided.

"That little conflict should not have ended in someone losing their life," Scott said. "I think that that's what we have to continue to press people on: is that people shouldn't just be getting into some basic conflict and then someone end up gone."

The Keystone Korner Baltimore music venue and restaurant, where Fitzsimmons worked as a bartender, issued a statement on the situation. "Our deepest heartfelt condolences to the family & friends of James Britt for their tragic loss, and our profound sympathy to the children and family of James Fitzsimmons, a former employee of Keystone Korner Baltimore," the statement said. 

Some neighbors in Harbor East said they were surprised something like this happened in this area.

"It went from just a drowning to a murder investigation, so it kind of had everyone on edge," Miyah Ko said. "You can talk things out rather than getting that aggressive, especially by this this water."

Other neighbors told WJZ they aren't surprised that something like this happened, adding that they don't feel safe walking around downtown, especially at night.

"I just don't [feel safe]. I just feel like you're always looking over your shoulder," Suzanne Masotti of Fells Point said.

Man pulled out of Baltimore water, charged with auto theft

A couple of hours earlier, a 48-year-old man was pulled out of the water in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood and was taken into custody for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

Officers responded around 12:51 p.m. to the 2800 block of Boston Street, where a 33-year-old man and a 48-year-old man were involved in a fight over the stolen motorcycle. 

Police said the 48-year-old man cut the 33-year-old with a pocketknife before he jumped in the water and swam underneath a bridge.

Baltimore City Fire Water Rescue crews got the man out of the water. He was taken to jail and charged with auto theft.