Baltimore Incident Unveils Police-Involved Tragedy on Nov 7, 2023, Hunter Jessup, 27, met a fatal end in a controversial shooting by Baltimore police. Body cam footage released paints a tense scene — Jessup fleeing, armed, and 36 shots fired. Police defend actions, citing threat perception; Jessup’s family alleges racial profiling and plans legal action. Public opinion is polarized, with calls for justice reform. The incident sparks debates on policing, transparency, and the complex dynamics of law enforcement. Investigations ongoing.

1. BALTIMORE SHOOTING

2. On November 7, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred in the city of Baltimore, Maryland,
involving police officers and a 27-year-old man named Hunter Jessup. The incident
sparked controversy and outrage, as some claimed that the police used excessive
force and violated Jessup’s rights, while others defended the officers’ actions and
praised their bravery. But what happened on that day? What led to the
confrontation between Jessup and the police? And what does the body cam video,
released by the Baltimore Police Department, show about the shooting?
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Baltimore shooting, and examine the
facts and evidence from the body cam video, as well as the statements and reactions
from the police, Jessup’s family, and the public. We will also explore the legal and
social implications of the shooting and the challenges and questions that it raises for
the future of policing and justice in Baltimore and beyond.

3. The Body Cam Video: What It Shows And What It Doesn’t
The body cam video, released by the Baltimore Police Department on November
17, 2023, is the main piece of evidence that sheds light on the Baltimore shooting.
A Baltimore shooting that killed a 27-year-old man who ran from the police with a
gun in his hand was caught on camera and released to the public on Friday
afternoon. The incident happened on Nov. 7 in the Millhill neighborhood of West
Baltimore, where the police were patrolling a high-crime area.
The police, who were part of the District Action Team, saw Hunter Jessup and
another man standing at a corner and asked them to lift their shirts. The other
man complied and showed no weapon, but Jessup had a bulge under his shirt. He
fled when the police got out of their car and chased him on the sidewalk.

4. Jessup was wearing gray sweatpants, black shoes, a backpack, and a plastic bag in his
sweatshirt pocket. He also had a Glock 23 with a long magazine in his right hand. The
gun was made of parts from different weapons. He fired at least one shot at the
police, hitting a parked car.
One of the officers, Brittany Routh, almost tackled him from the side, but he dodged
her. She saw his gun clearly, but she still tried to grab him. She fell to the ground and
missed him by a very small margin. That could have changed the outcome of that
day.
A second later, four officers, including Routh, shot at Jessup. They fired 36 rounds in
total and hit him many times. The exact number of shots that hit him is not known
yet. The shooting was recorded by the body cameras of four of the six officers who
were there.

5. Jessup was still alive and conscious when he fell to the ground. The police kicked the
gun away from him and started to give him first aid within 90 seconds. But he died
soon after. Jessup was under the supervision of the state’s parole and probation
division.
The police commissioner, Richard Worley, said the officers did what they were
trained to do. He said they shot to stop Jessup from being a threat to them and the
public.
He said, “As soon as he turns to me with his weapon and he points the weapon at
me, that means he’s going to try to kill me or shoot me, and I will shoot right back at
him.” The video of the shooting was given to the U.S. attorney’s office, the state’s
attorney’s office, and the city’s office of equity and civil rights.

6. The Reactions: From The Police, Jessup’s Family, And The Public
The Baltimore shooting sparked different reactions from different parties involved or
affected by the incident. The police, Jessup’s family, and the public had their views
and opinions on the shooting and expressed them through various channels and
platforms.
The police defended their actions and claimed that they acted lawfully and
professionally. They said that they had a reasonable suspicion to stop and question
Jessup, based on his appearance and behavior. They said that they followed the rules
of engagement, and used deadly force only as a last resort.
They said that they released the body cam video to show transparency and
accountability, and to counter any false or misleading narratives about the shooting.
They also said that they were cooperating with the internal and external
investigations into the shooting and that they were confident that they would be
cleared of any wrongdoing.

7. Jessup’s family, on the other hand, disputed the police’s version of events and
accused them of lying and covering up the truth. They said that Jessup was not a
criminal, but a victim of racial profiling and police brutality. They said that Jessup
had a legal permit to carry a gun and that he was exercising his right to self-defense
when he was confronted by the police.
They said that the body cam video was edited and manipulated and that it did not
show the whole story. They also said that they were seeking justice for Jessup and
that they would file a lawsuit against the police and the city for wrongful death and
civil rights violations.
The public, meanwhile, had mixed and diverse reactions to the shooting, depending
on their background, perspective, and affiliation. Some people supported the police
and praised them for their courage and service. They said that the police were doing
their job and that they faced a dangerous and hostile situation.

8. They said that the police deserved respect and appreciation and that they should
not be judged or criticized for their actions. They also said that the police were
being unfairly targeted and vilified by the media and the activists and that they
needed more support and protection from the government and society.
Other people criticized the police and condemned them for their violence and
misconduct. They said that the police were abusing their power and that they
violated Jessup’s rights and dignity. They said that the police were not protecting
and serving the community, but terrorizing and oppressing it.
They also said that the police were not being held accountable or responsible for
their actions and that they enjoyed impunity and immunity from the law and the
system. They demanded that the police be reformed or abolished and that they be
replaced by alternative and community-based models of public safety and justice.