Two children die in fire in South Baltimore home, echoing recent city tragedy

Two children died in a house fire early Saturday in the Westport neighborhood of South Baltimore, days after two other children died in a fire in East Baltimore. A 10-year-old and a 1-year-old died as flames engulfed a home in the 2400 block of Dorton Court about 1:55 a.m. Saturday, fire Capt. Roman Clark said. A 27-year-old and a 4-year-old who were in the home were not injured, Clark said. On Wednesday, Nigel Ramirez, 3, and 9month-old Exekial Ramirez died in a fire in the 600 block of N. Clinton St. in East Baltimore. The children’s bodies were found by firefighters in a second-floor bedroom.

Three city killings bring homicide count to 299

Three men were killed late Friday and early Saturday in Baltimore, increasing the likelihood that the year’s homicide count will hit 300 for a second consecutive year. Police said a 26-year-old man was shot in Coldstream Homestead Montebello by an unidentified gunman about 1:21 a.m. Saturday and then walked into the street, where he was struck by a vehicle; the driver fled the scene. Police said an officer was in the 2700 block of Harford Road when he heard several gunshots to the south of him, police said. Officers found the unresponsive man and took him to a hospital, where he died. Earlier, officers found a man in the 1100 block of Curtain Ave. in East Baltimore Midway about 11:58 p.m. Friday. The man had been shot in the head, police said, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release the name of either man. And about 9:45 p.m. Friday, a man was shot in the 2600 block of Greenmount Ave., police said. The victim, identified as Keith Ramsey, 32, of Better Waverly, was taken to a hospital, where he died. Detectives asked anyone with information to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1866-7Lockup. The deaths brought Baltimore’s 2016 homicide count to 299. The city recorded 344 killings in 2015 — the first year since 1999 the count reached 300.

1 in custody, 4 at large after Salisbury bank robbery

SALISBURY — One man was in custody and four others were at large Saturday after the armed robbery of a bank in Salisbury that left one person injured, police said. Five masked gunmen entered a Bank of Delmarva branch Friday evening, ordered employees onto the floor and tied their hands, police said. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot, police said. One employee was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. Police said 28-year-old Kalvin Lee Holley of Salisbury was in custody and faces charges of armed robbery, first-degree assault and related offenses.