A deadly early-morning shooting outside a Horseshoe Casino in south Baltimore has left a 26-year-old man dead and another injured just days before large crowds are expected to gather nearby for the Army–Navy football game.
Shooting Near Horseshoe Casino Leaves One Victim Dead and Another Critically Injured
The shooting occurred around 1:30 am on Wednesday, December 10, in a busy area near the Horseshoe Casino in south Baltimore and the M&T Bank Stadium, where thousands of visitors, including President Donald Trump, are expected for the Army-Navy football game this Saturday. Officers were in the 700 block of Washington Boulevard when they heard gunfire, followed shortly by a ShotSpotter alert from the 800 block of Cross Street. They then responded to the Royal Farms parking lot across from the Horseshoe Casino at 1500 Russell Street, where they found a 26-year-old man with gunshot wounds.
He was transported to the emergency room, where he was later pronounced dead. Police said a second victim, a 22-year-old man, later arrived at a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and is reported to be in stable condition and is expected to survive.
Shooting Near Casino Sparks Concerns About Local Safety
Baltimore resident Donna Swecker voiced her concerns, stating that the city’s situation has become so dire that authorities should bring some soldiers for the Army-Navy game as an extra safety precaution. Swecker, who once worked at the Royal Farms store, also noted that the location struggles to retain managers due to the frequent crime in the area.
A patron at a nearby store, David Ploskonka, said it was “crazy” that someone would commit such an act right in front of the store. He expressed a wish that people would stop shooting one another and voiced broader concerns about the rising level of violence in society.
City Councilman Mark Conway, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, acknowledged residents’ concerns in a statement noting that he understands why people are troubled by the recent incidents near the Horseshoe Casino. He emphasized that this is a busy area where residents and visitors should feel safe attending events. Conway added that he remains in regular communication with police to ensure community safety remains a priority.
There are multiple cameras in the area, including those at the store and CitiWatch, but no arrests have yet been made, and the investigation remains ongoing. However, detectives believe the incident was targeted and confined to the gas station parking lot.
Police said they know of at least one suspect, and investigators asked anyone who might have information to call 410-396-2100.