BALTIMORE (AP) – As gun violence continues to say no in Baltimore after years of rampant bloodshed, the historically turbulent neighborhood in the city’s southwest corner is celebrating a long-awaited victory: zero homicides in greater than a year.

These numbers have particular significance for the Brooklyn community where: mass shooting in July 2023, it tore through the annual summer party, leaving two people dead and 28 others injured in the courtyard of an aging public housing estate. Majority victims they were teenagers and young adults.

In the wake of the tragedy, the city’s flagship anti-violence program Safe Streets has stepped up its efforts in the area, and officials say the efforts are paying off. On Tuesday afternoon, residents and city officials gathered near the site of the mass shooting to have fun a year of progress.

“This just isn’t just an achievement for Safe Streets. It’s a testament to Brooklyn’s resilience and community strength,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. “This is a community that has been sold out, neglected and ignored for a protracted, very long time. But together, together, we are saying enough is enough.

Citywide, homicides are down about 24% in comparison with this time last year. That’s roughly it 20% decline in 2023when Baltimore recorded fewer than 300 homicides for the first time in nearly a decade, ending a surge that began in 2015 after the death of Freddie Gray and widespread civil unrest.

Violent crimes too decreased nationwide after a surge during the pandemic.

The Baltimore Safe Streets program includes 10 offices situated in the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods. It was released in 2007 and has developed in recent years under Scott, who has ceaselessly pledged to treat violence as a public health crisis and address its root causes.

Safe Streets focuses on de-escalating conflicts by employing mediators with credibility and street knowledge. This is an inherently dangerous job because they develop close relationships with people who find themselves most liable to becoming perpetrators or victims of gun violence. Officials say reaching young people is vital.

Adanus Sprillium, 22, said he recently enrolled in a residential job readiness program that was really useful by Safe Streets staff in Brooklyn. He had his first GED class last week. Sprillium said he previously struggled with drug addiction and homelessness.

“I would probably end up dead or in jail,” he said.

A community survey conducted in the weeks after the mass shooting in Brooklyn found that city officials consider many borough residents place more trust in Safe Streets than Baltimore police, local schools, nonprofits and other institutions. Only neighborhood churches ranked higher.

Still, the presence of Safe Streets staff at the block party was not enough to forestall it from ultimately degenerating into chaos and bloodshed.

Baltimore police faced heavy criticism for their response to the incident. The report pointed to potential bias amongst officers after finding police he ignored many warning signs and didn’t take proactive motion in the hours before the shooting broke out. Critics questioned whether police would have responded in another way if the shooting had occurred in a wealthier neighborhood.

The department announced disciplinary charges against a dozen officers earlier this year.

Five teenagers arrested in reference to the shooting. Four of them have already pleaded guilty to varied charges.

Sean Wees, director of Safe Streets’ Brooklyn chapter, said a lot of the staff have deep roots in the community. In response to the shooting, the team has made every effort to advertise safety and ensure residents have access to services. However, Wees said there continues to be much work to be done.

“We are working to promote peace and progress here in Brooklyn,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting. “We cannot stop until these kinds of ceremonies are no longer needed – until peace becomes the standard, not a streak measured in days or months.”

Jada Arnell Thomas, the singer and actress who made headlines after she was shot and injured at an autograph signing in Dallas, has finally broken her silence.

In Instagram post on Wednesday, the 26-year-old wrote: “God’s grace, mercy and overwhelming love will NEVER cease to amaze me. Thank you to everyone who called, texted and came to visit me. I love you all very much! This road to recovery will be extremely difficult, but my faith in the Lord has NEVER been stronger!”

Thomas was on stage at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters on Saturday, November 2, when the incident occurred, following a matinee performance of her production of “The Bitches,” wherein she stars alongside two other actresses.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by a neighborhood outlet WFAAThomas was signing autographs on the academy where she was once a student when 26-year-old suspect Micah Williams approached her and shot her within the chest.

Thomas was taken to a close-by hospital, and Williams was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and brought to the Dallas County Jail on $200,000 bail.

Officers found a 26-year-old gunshot victim after arriving on the scene around 5:50 p.m. Saturday. People Magazine reported.

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An arrest affidavit says Williams was arrested within the hotel lobby after a witness allegedly spotted her. The statement said a witness described Williams as “really robotic and turned off” and that the suspect allegedly confessed to shooting Thomas.

I’m talking to Newsweekacademy founder and director Curtis King called the shooting scene “chaotic.”

“The whole room just started praying. It was like a big song,” he said.

In an announcement published on the academy’s website on Sunday Facebook pageKing said that “effective immediately” the ability will implement latest security measures, including reducing the variety of entry points to prevent weapons from entering the ability.

“For 48 years, TBAAL has proudly maintained a tradition of safe, family-friendly events and a welcoming environment,” King wrote, adding: “We ensure that our patrons are upstanding citizens who share our commitment to creating a safe, positive environment for all.” As we proceed to grow, our mission to enrich communities through the humanities stays unwavering.”

Police said in an announcement that that they had found a gun and an investigation was ongoing. It is unclear whether Thomas and Williams were related, and a possible motive remains to be unknown.

According to online prison records Williams is being held within the Dallas County Jail on $200,000 bail, People reported. It’s unclear whether she filed a motion or hired a lawyer to act on her behalf.

ATLANTA (AP) Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty Thursday in Atlanta to gang, drug and weapons charges and shall be released from prison, although he could return to prison if he violates the terms of his sentence.

The 33-year-old Grammy winner, real name Jeffery Williams, made his pleas without reaching an agreement with prosecutors after negotiations between the 2 sides broke down, lead prosecutor Adriane Love said. That left sentencing entirely up to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.

Young Thug’s allegations come two and a half years after he was arrested and charged, and nearly a yr after prosecutors began presenting evidence within the troubled trial. Jury selection in an Atlanta courthouse began in January 2023 AND it took almost 10 months. Since then, prosecutors have interviewed dozens of witnesses opening statements last November six defendants within the trial.

The trial faced multiple delays, including in July when the unique judge was removed after two defendants requested his refusal, citing the judge’s meeting with prosecutors and a state witness.

Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges. He also entered a no contest plea on one other gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning he selected not to contest those charges but could possibly be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.

The judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison, the primary five of which were to be served but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years of probation. If he successfully completes probation with none violations, one other 20 years shall be credited to time served. However, if he violates those terms, he could have to serve those 20 years as well as to any probation violation penalties.

The young gunman must keep away from the Atlanta metro area for the primary 10 years of his probation, aside from weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illnesses of members of the family, the judge said.

But she also ordered him to return to the Atlanta area 4 times a yr during his probation period to give a live presentation on the fight against gangs and gun violence at a college or community organization that serves children. She said it could possibly be counted toward the 100 hours of community service she ordered him to perform every year while on probation.

He can also be prohibited from meeting with gang members, victims or other defendants within the case, aside from his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He also may not promote any street gang or criminal gang activity or use hand signs or terminology that promotes a street gang.

Additional conditions include submitting to random drug tests and not possessing weapons. However, he may travel for business purposes each domestically and abroad, even throughout the trial period.

Love outlined to the judge the evidence she would present to prove Young Thug’s guilt, including a few of his rap lyrics. She asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years, of which 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years suspended.

The rapper’s lead attorney, Brian Steel, said they “strongly disagree” with lots of Love’s statements and said it was “offensive” that the state was using Young Thug’s lyrics against him.

Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of presenting false information and concealing evidence, saying Young Thug was “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client he believed they were winning the trial and should get the jury’s verdict.

“But he told me, ‘I am unable to wait one other three months if there may be any way I can come home because I even have sick children. I even have things to do,” Steel said.

Steel asked the judge to impose a sentence of 45 years in prison, which could possibly be commuted to five years in prison and 40 years of probation.

Young Thug asked the judge to let him go home, saying he would not be in the same situation again.

“You know, I learned from my mistakes. I got here from nothing, I created something and I didn’t use it to its full potential. “I’m sorry,” he said.

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The judge said she appreciated that he recognized the impact he was having on people world wide. She said that in rap music, rap music may involve striking many poses, but children imitate a number of the dangerous behaviors mentioned within the songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage children to do the appropriate thing.

“I want you to strive to be more of a solution and less of a problem,” Whitaker said.

Young Thug, a hugely successful rapper, began his own record label, Young Stoner Life or YSL. Prosecutors said he also co-founded a violent street gang and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.

Was charged two years ago in a lengthy indictment that accuses him and greater than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He was also charged with crimes related to gangs, drugs and weapons.

His Young Thug’s three co-defendants did it he has already pleaded guilty this week after reaching an agreement with prosecutors. The charges leave the fate of two other co-defendants still unresolved.

Nine people charged within the indictment agreed to plea deals before the trial began. Twelve other persons are being tried individually. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.