An active-duty Marine was shot at a downtown hookah bar early Friday and later died of his injuries, Baltimore police said.

The 26-year-old from New Orleans was shot once in the chest after an altercation in the lounge between 3:15 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. He said the victim was celebrating with fellow Marines prior to his deployment to Afghanistan.

Police withheld the Marine's name pending notification of his family.

Guglielmi said police are interviewing bouncers and other witnesses but have identified no suspects and no persons of interest in the shooting. He said the after-hours lounge, located on the 200 block of E. Baltimore St., has no history of violent incidents.

Active and former Marines have been the victims in a spate of killings around the Baltimore area in recent months. In June, unarmed former Marine Tyrone Brown was shot by off-duty police officer Gahiji A. Tshamba outside a Mount Vernon bar. Tshamba was charged with first-degree murder.

In January, Pfc. Darius Ray of Potomac was stabbed after an altercation at a late-night house party in Northeast Baltimore. Three men were charged with first-degree murder.

In November, former Marine Grayson Edward Kenney Jr. was found face-down in his neighbor's driveway in western Baltimore County, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

childs.walker@baltsun.com