Annapolis leaders condemn gun violence after 2 teens injured in separate shootings
ANNAPOLIS -- Annapolis leaders are condemning recent acts of gun violence involving young people after an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old were shot in two separate incidents.
Officials sounded the alarm after the 16-year-old was killed on Saturday, Feb. 8 and the 18-year-old was injured on Feb. 4.
"These tragic incidents highlight the deadly consequences when ready access to guns mixes with young people in conflict, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said. "This is no way to resolve differences and disputes. As a community, we can't tolerate this kind of violence."
16-year-old fatally shot
A 16-year-old was killed in a shooting inside an Annapolis home on Saturday, Feb. 8, according to police.
Officers said they responded to the 100 block of Holeclaw Street around 8 p.m. for the reported shooting, where they found the teen boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, officers said.
18-year-old shot on soccer field
Saturday's shooting came days after an 18-year-old man was shot by a relative on a soccer field in Annapolis in an unrelated incident.
Police said the shooting occurred on Feb. 4 at Wiley Bates Heritage Park which is located behind a senior center and near The Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis.
The 18-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his head and taken to a shock trauma center to be treated for his injuries. Police said at the time of the shooting there were about 30 people, including teens, playing soccer on the field.
"One witness said they heard a loud pop and saw people scattering, and that's when the victim was discovered," Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said.
On Monday, officers said a 16-year-old was arrested for shooting the 18-year-old who is a relative.
"Sad that, once again, kids have access to guns, sad that it happened at a place that is publicly accessible, sad that people have to deal with disagreements using violence," Annapolis resident Josh Faulk said.
Crime in Annapolis
So far in 2025, there have been at least four victims of gun violence in Annapolis, according to data from the police department.
One of those includes a 16-year-old boy who was injured in a shooting on Jan. 24 and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
The city reported 30 instances of gun violence in 2024, including nine shootings and three homicides. Four of those reported shootings left minors injured, according to police data.
In 2023, one juvenile was killed in a shooting. In four instances, minors were victims of gun violence in contact shootings, data shows.
Maryland has cracked down on juvenile crime in recent years. In 2024, the Juvenile Reform Act went into effect, making it possible for children between the ages of 10 and 12 to be charged with certain offenses like gun possession.
The law also allows the state's attorney's office to review cases against minors who are under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services.
Police Chief Ed Jackson says retaliatory violence is typically a factor when it comes to minors, and parents, school staff, and law enforcement need to work together to keep them safe.
"Disputes happen in school and carry over into the community and we have to find a way to mitigate that and intervene," Jackson said.
