BALTIMORE SHOOTING
                     BALTIMORE SHOOTING
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 
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.