Towson mall turns away hundreds on curfew nights
Two killed, four hurt in rash of city shootings
Two people were killed and four others injured in shootings within an hour Friday night across Baltimore, police said. About 9:05 p.m., a 43-year-old man was shot in the 700 block of Mello Court in East Baltimore. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he died. The victim was not identified by police. At 9:16, police say, they were called to the 2600 block of Reisterstown Road in Mondawmin, West Baltimore, for a report of a firearm being discharged. Two people later walked into area hospitals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. One victim, a 25-year-old man who has not been identified by police, died. The second victim, a 32-year-old man, sustained non-lifethreatening wounds, police said. Then, at 9:24 p.m., a 27-year-old man was shot in the 300 block of E. 22nd St. in Barclay in East Baltimore. And just after 10 p.m., police were called to the 5000 block of Ready Ave. in Winston-Govans in North Baltimore for a report of a firearm being discharged. Later, a 19-year-old woman and a 26year-old man, who police said had been shot on Ready Avenue, walked into separate hospitals for treatment. Police ask that anyone with information call 1-866-7LOCKUP. Towson Town Center turned away several hundred juveniles who were not accompanied by adults on the first weekend of its new curfew policy, its general manager said Saturday. Mall staff barred 194 children and teens Friday night and 216 Saturday night, said mall chief Lisa Bisenius. She said no problems were reported as the mall began enforcing its limits on teenage gatherings between 5 p.m. and its 9 p.m. closing time. On Saturday night, retailers were pleased with brisk business and a crowded food court, Bisenius said. “We feel like the community has come back and they’re supporting us and showing us this is the right direction to go,” she said. Bisenius said some of the teens who were turned away later returned with their parents or guardians. Most of the teens who were turned away had heard about the policy and did not seem surprised by it, she said. The mall’s owner, Chicago-based General Growth Properties, decided to adopt the curfew policy after market research showed that large numbers of teens hanging out at the mall was a “pain point” that discouraged adults from shopping on Friday and Saturday nights, Bisenius said. Mall employees checked identification cards at the doors and admitted anyone who could show they were 18 or accompanied by an adult.