14-Year-Old Boy Charged In Death Of 15-Year-Old: Police

BALTIMORE, MD — A boy has been charged in the death of a fellow teen in Baltimore that occurred this week, police reported Tuesday.

The victim has been identified as Jaileel Jones, 15, according to the Baltimore Police Department.

"Prior to this incident, members of our Northwest District were working alongside Mr. Jones in helping him find employment and other pathways away from crime," Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said in a statement Tuesday. “This is truly a tragic incident for the victim, suspect and all of their loved ones who are now negatively impacted and are left with the trauma of this senseless act of violence."

Officials said Jones and a 14-year-old boy got into an argument on Thursday, March 4.

Authorities said they arrived around 7:15 p.m. Thursday and found Jones had been shot in the 5100 block of Chalgrove Avenue.

Jones was on the couch and had been shot in the head, according to WJZ, which cited charging documents that said a shell casing was found on the floor and witnesses identified the 14-year-old boy as the gunman.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said, reporting he died Saturday, March 6.

Damonyae Malone, 14, of the 4000 block of Oakford Avenue, is charged with first and second-degree murder, court records show. Police said the two boys knew one another.

“This is a complete tragedy," Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement Tuesday after charges were filed against the teen. "The lives of two young men have been devastated by this incident, forever impacting two families. This incident also illustrates why we must address violence with a comprehensive strategy — one that does not solely rely on police, but that focuses on investing in our young people and providing our communities with meaningful support they need.”

Baltimore has reported 48 homicides so far this year, compared with 53 on this date last year, the police department said Tuesday, March 9. Police said nonfatal shootings are up, with 107 so far this year, compared with 90 last year.

In the past week, multiple children have been shot. A 10-year-old girl was among three injured in a triple shooting Feb. 27 and a 12-year-old boy was shot in the arm in the northeast district March 1.

"We must continue to work every day and even harder to disrupt the violence that is tearing our communities and families apart, to include our youth," the police commissioner said. "Our department is committed to working alongside all of those in Baltimore to break the cycle of violence and bring to justice those that wish to cause harm in our city.”