Man Shot Outside Funeral at Northeast Baltimore Church, Police Say

A 25-year-old man was shot outside Open Bible Church in Northeast Baltimore on Saturday afternoon following a funeral, according to Baltimore police. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as they work to determine what led to the incident.

Officers responded to the 3200 block of West Overlea Avenue around 1:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, police said. When officers arrived, they found the man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have not released information about his current condition, and no suspect information has been made public.

Video recorded by a citizen showed a crowd gathered outside the church as first responders worked at the scene. The shooting drew concern from people in the surrounding neighborhood, including residents who said they heard an argument before gunfire erupted.

Witness Describes Hearing Argument Before Gunfire

Man Shot Outside Funeral at Northeast Baltimore Church, Police Say — Baltimore Police are asking anyone with information to contact them after a man was shot outside a funeral in Northeast Baltimore Saturday afternoon.

Timothy Scruggs, a neighborhood resident, said he was changing the oil in his car when he heard people arguing nearby.

Scruggs initially thought the noise might be related to chanting outside the church. However, he soon heard what he described as gunfire.

He said he moved through his backyard and returned inside his home, where he locked the front door and told his wife what was happening. He later went back outside.

Scruggs also told reporters that he believed he may have seen the suspected shooter. According to his account, one person ran toward his fence and attempted to enter his yard while holding a gun with an extended magazine.

Police have not publicly confirmed the identity of a suspect or announced an arrest. Scruggs’ account has not been independently established as an official identification by investigators.

Pastor Says Shooting Followed Funeral Service

Pastor Kevin English told WJZ that the shooting happened after a funeral service at Open Bible Church had ended.

English said the group had rented the church for the funeral and was not affiliated with the congregation.

The pastor expressed sadness that the violence occurred on a day intended to honor someone’s life, saying the incident had affected the memory of the person being memorialized.

The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear. Investigators have not publicly explained what prompted the reported argument or identified those involved.