Man fatally shot at party in Baltimore

The 24-year-old man who was shot to death early Saturday in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood was hosting a “game night” party and streaming on Facebook Live when his attacker scaled a fence, according to a review of the video and a woman who attended the party.

Police have not identified the victim or released details of the homicide, other than to say the victim was shot about 2:45 a.m. in the 1100 block of South Charles Street.

On Facebook, though, dozens of people mourned the man’s death on the same page where he livestreamed multiple times as the party got underway and as more people arrived.

Using the name “Ernest from Geico,” the man was apparently livestreaming just before he was shot.

“Who the [expletive] is that? Get your dumb ass on the other side of the gate,” he says. A man can be seen climbing the property’s fence.

“Get on the ground,” the man says after landing inside the gate. “Get on the ground.”

There is a commotion, and the video then cuts out.

Deem Monroe, 24, said she was at the party earlier in the evening. She said the victim was her best friend.

“It was a last-minute game night, and we were all OK and vibing,” she told The Baltimore Sun. “When I left, [he] walked me outside and I said, ‘Come home with me.’ He said, ‘I’m having fun, I’m OK.’ We hugged, and then I received calls a short time after that that he was killed.”

Democratic City Councilman Eric Costello said police told him the victim was killed at a short-term apartment and that the victim was hosting a “game night” when two people entered and demanded money.

The victim, according to his Instagram and Facebook posts and videos, routinely hosts parties around the city.

The block, between Cross and West streets, is normally a destination for many, particularly on weekend nights, as it is home to several popular bars. However, the bars’ normal operations have been halted under state emergency orders related to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has issued a stay-at-home order and banned gatherings of more than 10 people.

The videos show the night started with the victim on Facebook Live, telling people to reach out to him about the party he’s hosting at a short-term rental in South Baltimore.

“I’m not putting the location in public. It’s a private event,” he tells the camera.

He livestreamed additional videos. The party is not raucous — there’s no more than 20 people and perhaps fewer. Music is playing, everyone appears to be in good spirits. A pizza box and liquor bottles can be seen in the background.

At 2:32 a.m., he’s streaming again when he says the group decides to play hide and seek. He walks outside in the dark to count to 30.

“I can see y’all!” he taunts. “Y’all making it too easy!”

He walks outside and finds three people, counting them out. Just then, a man can be seen scaling the fence to the property.

The Sun further corroborated the video by comparing the distinct gate and windows of a nearby apartment building, along with the spot where an ambulance picked up the victim.

“My best friend was a person who made you laugh with anything that came out of his mouth,” Monroe said.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.