15-Year-Old Charged with First-Degree Murder Following July 7th Homicide Near the Inner Harbor

Today, Baltimore Police Department announced a 15-year-old was arrested and charged as an adult for first-degree murder following the homicide that took place on July 7th at the intersection of Light St. and Conway St. The suspect was arrested at 6:35am today at a home in Essex in Baltimore County. The suspect was transported to the homicide section to be interviewed by detectives and then transported to the Central Booking Intake Facility where the suspect was charged.

The high-profile incident took place after 48-year-old Hampden resident Timothy Reynolds had an altercation with “squeegee workers” at the intersection.

From Fox45:

One week ago, Reynolds was killed during a confrontation with squeegee kids in downtown Baltimore. Video of the encounter, first seen by the Baltimore Banner, shows Reynolds stopping his car and crossing eight lanes of traffic holding a bat.

Reynolds never actually strikes them, but he does swing the bat in their direction. One of the young people threw a rock at Reynolds’ head, the report said. At that point, Reynolds became disoriented, according to the report, and then five shots were heard.

“Today’s arrest in the July 7 homicide is another sad reminder that guns are too easily accessible to our young people,” said Police Commissioner Michael Harrison in a press release. “We have seen time and time again the willingness of individuals to illegally carry and use these weapons. And we know they make the decision to do so the moment they leave the house, not just when they pull the trigger. We all need to continue to work together to address the root causes of violence and to provide resources and alternatives to these young people. I hope that today’s arrest brings some closure and peace to the family, friends and loved ones of Timothy Reynolds.”

“I want to thank the Baltimore Police Department, School Police and all of our partners for the work done to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring someone into custody,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a press release. “As I’ve said continuously – any person that endangers the safety and well-being of anyone on the streets of Baltimore, they will be held accountable. Now we must all support our community in healing especially the impacted families. As we allow this case to be handled by the appropriate parties, we must continue to do all we can to prevent people – especially young people – from having to engage in activities that put the lives of others or their own lives at risk. I remain committed to working with leaders from within my administration as well as partners from the public and private sectors to identify and implement plans that will help us reimagine Baltimore – allowing us to live and work in a city of which we can be proud.”

Before the homicide took place on July 7th at least two other altercations occurred at same intersection at Light and Conway St. An individual was arrested for pulling a pullet gun on a driver. Maryland State Delegate Antonio Hayes was also involved in an altercation with squeegee workers when one threw a water bottle at him.

From The Baltimore Sun:

There have been 59 calls for “squeegee disturbances” at East Conway and Light over the past 18 months, according to Open Baltimore data. Calls about the window washers at that intersection spiked in June, when there were 13 — more than double as many as the month with the next-most calls since Jan. 1, 2021.

District Councilman Eric T. Costello, who represents South Baltimore and Downtown, called the altercation that led to the homicide “tragic — and yet preventable” and called for “enforcement of the laws already on the books that prohibit this illegal activity, immediately.”

Councilman Zeke Cohen, who represents Southeast Baltimore, also called for enforcement and said, “the status quo simply cannot continue.” He also called on the business community and City to “make sure every child who wants a living wage job can get one and get paid on an expedited schedule.” Read his entire statement here.

From Governor Larry Hogan on WBAL:

“We have had so many instances of people just being harassed, people don’t want to come to the city anymore,” Hogan said. “They are getting their windshield broken, you know, tearing off their windshield wipers. They’re yelling at women in the car by themselves and punching people, and now shooting and killing someone. It’s just outrageous.”

Mayor Scott, who will have a press conference today at 3:30pm to address issues with squeegee workers, spoke on the topic to WYPR. From a Fox45 article:

“We all know the failure of clearing corners in Baltimore,” Scott said in an interview with WYPR. “And that history is why we have a consent decree.”

Scott also described squeegeeing as panhandling, which he says is protected by the Constitution.

“What we will do is actually enforce illegal activity that is not protected by the Constitution,” Scott said.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who seeks a third term in office and is running against Thiru Vignarajah and Ivan Bates in the 2022 Democratic Primary on July 19th, spoke on the issue which was covered by WBAL.

From the article:

Bates said he would get the squeegee workers off the streets in 60 days and would use community court. Vignarajah said he could do it in 90 days, and if offering services doesn’t work, then he planned to enforce the laws.

Mosby said her opponents’ plans are not the correct way to address the issue.

“Whether they call it a 60-day plan, or a 90-day plan, both of my opponents are literally racing each other to see who can be the quickest to lock up 12-year-old black and brown boys for squeegeeing,” Mosby said.

Mosby said the city needs to address the root issues of poverty and called what the public is seeing with squeegee workers — a symptom of the larger problem.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.