Officers were investigating the shooting of 16- and 18- year-olds in South Baltimore Monday afternoon when another 16-year-old was shot up the street, police said.
The first two teens were expected to survive. But the third, who was shot at the intersection of St. Victor Street and Patapsco Avenue at about 3:45 p.m., died at a local hospital.
Police identified him as Joseph Payne, of the 4200 block of 4th Street.
"We believe these incidents are connected," said Lt. Jarron Jackson, a police spokesman. "This is a very busy street and broad daylight ... someone must have seen something."
Three men sat apart on the curb of Patapsco Avenue with handcuffs and white bags on their hands, until officers drove them away.
A young woman walked toward the street where the boy was mortally wounded. She stood at the crime tape, and screamed. "That's my brother. That's my brother," she said. Her long hair hung over her face while she cried.
Behind her, an older woman came and spoke softly to the officers. She said the boy was her son. The women held each other around the shoulders, walking back across Patapsco Avenue to their car, and drove away.
"That's a hard scene, man," said Norman Eaton, the pastor of nearby Greater Hope Worship Center, who came to comfort the families.
A woman across the street said she heard gunfire and peeked out her window. She saw the boy running and then collapse. Then she closed the curtains and pulled her young children away from the windows.
"I'm not giving my name," she said. "I'm not trying to get shot."
Standing on her front steps, she watched the firefighters hose the blood from the corner.