Police have apprehended the person who allegedly sent the sounds of gunshots echoing just one block away from Hopkins dormitories last Sunday morning.
At around two a.m., six or seven gunshots were heard between the 3300 and 3500 blocks of St. Paul Street.
Police were on the scene before the gunshots were reported, having been called in to handle an alleged altercation at The Den, according to Carrie Bennett, student/community liaison and compliance officer.
In an e-mail to the News-Letter, Bennett wrote that the officers present attempted to clear the crowd that had shifted from The Den to the intersection of 33rd and St. Paul, where Bennett was working.
"While the officers and I were dispersing the crowd, we all heard what sounded like six to seven gunshots," she wrote. "The police officers left the area in pursuit."
Bennett later assisted several police officers in questioning nearby potential witnesses about the incident.
Lieutenant Steven Ossmus of Hopkins Security was able to provide further details about the incident in an email to The News-Letter.
"Campus Police and Baltimore City Police . . . heard what sounded like gunshots being fired near the intersection of the 100 E. University Parkway and 3500 Block of St. Paul Street," he wrote.
A student living at University One who wished to remain anonymous said that when she heard the shots, she looked out her window and saw the suspect standing outside his car.
"He was just on foot," she said. "With the gun in his hand." She described him as African-American, with long hair in braids.
Ossmus wrote that just after the supposed gunshots were heard "The police observed a silver colored Dodge Charger fleeing the area...that was suspected of being involved in the incident."
A brief chase ensued. The car stopped near West 28th Street and 3 suspects "bailed out," according to Ossmus. The driver dropped his handgun shortly afterwards, in an alley near the 2700 block of Maryland Avenue. The driver was apprehended at the corner of 27th and North Charles Street.
The driver was confirmed to be completely unaffiliated with Hopkins.
"The recovered handgun was...a commercially-made blank handgun which cannot be made to fire real ammunition," he wrote.
According to Ossmus, the police realized very soon after finding the handgun that it was only capable of firing blanks.
He also wrote that the emergency text messaging system sometimes used by the university was not utilized because the incident was resolved quickly.
"Text messages are only sent if there is a confirmed imminent threat or a significant emergency...this situation was resolved quickly and did not warrant a text message or any student notification outside of our regular daily incident reporting."
The event was posted on the security website on Monday, September 7.
There was no reported damage to any buildings or property in the area as a result of the chase.
Like Bennett and Reiner, Ossmus stressed the importance of cooperation between campus security and city police in resolving the issue quickly.
"I also want to point out the quick action by the Baltimore Police in partnership with Campus Police...reflects positively on what we have accomplished," he wrote.
Ossmus also believes that responding quickly to incidents like this help to deter them in the future.
One of the police officers involved also works for the university when he is off-duty and helped to facilitate the cooperation between the groups.
"This was a random act that could have occurred anywhere at any time," Ossmus wrote. "Upon confirmation of a significant incident that presents imminent danger, various notification systems will be used...to reach the maximum audience."
"This highlights the partnership between the University and the community," Community Relations Coordinator Salem Reiner said. "It emphasizes the importance of a strong community."He said that there was an open exchange of information between members of the community and campus security.
Reiner explained that the Baltimore City police successfully apprehended the suspect. It was discovered that the gunman's weapon only fired blanks.
He described his reaction to the incident as one of "surprise, disappointment and concern, but also relief that no one was hurt."
Reiner added that although he has been working at Hopkins since December of 2001, he does not recall any incidents of drive-by shootings so close to campus.
Bennett also wrote that, "I don't recall any incidents like this where we thought we heard real gunshots so close to campus." However, she has been working at Hopkins for over 16 years and mentions that during that time three murders occurred involving students.
While Bennett urges students to exercise caution, she does not think this event will have a major impact on the university's relationship with the local community. So far she has not heard any reaction from the Charles Village community regarding the incident.
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