Baltimore police have released the name of the man shot and killed inside a Park Heights Avenue business over the weekend, putting a face to a killing that has rattled Northwest Baltimore. Authorities say 24-year-old Xavier Williams was found inside a store on the 5400 block of Park Heights Avenue on June 20 and was pronounced dead at the scene. The homicide is the latest in a string of violence in the area and has once again stirred anxiety about neighborhood safety.
The Baltimore Police Department publicly identified Williams in a recent briefing, according to Baltimore Witness. The outlet reports that detectives have opened a Northwest District homicide investigation into the killing.
Park Heights Under Scrutiny
Park Heights has been in the headlines throughout the spring and early summer for all the wrong reasons, with repeated violent incidents and high-profile police activity drawing citywide attention. That includes the June 9 arrest of a Safe Streets outreach worker, reported in coverage of the Safe Streets worker busted in shooting. Other recent clashes and operations in the area have kept the neighborhood under a bright and uncomfortable spotlight, which helps explain why this latest killing has prompted such a quick response from residents and city officials.
What Police Say Happened
According to an earlier report, Northwest District officers were called to a business on the 5400 block of Park Heights Avenue at about 12:21 p.m. on June 20. Inside, officers found a 24-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound, and medics pronounced him dead at the scene, Baltimore Witness reported. Homicide detectives have taken over the case, and police have not released any publicly available information on possible suspects or charges.
Investigators are continuing to work on the case. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
