Baltimore County police have charged several more Baltimore teenagers in the beating of a Dundalk man outside his home last month, bringing the total for those charged in the incident to seven people 15 to 20 years old.
The beating of the 61-year-old resident of 45th Street — who police said had been trying to break up a fight between girls outside his home April 22 — galvanized the Harbor View community, where residents say they've long dealt with unruly teens in their neighborhood.
The man was hospitalized after several teens turned on him and badly beat him. Georgia Bartram, president of the Harbor View Neighborhood Association, said "everyone feels better" since arrests have been made. She said the man, who has declined to comment publicly on the attack, is slowly recovering.
"It was a brutal, heinous crime," Bartram said.
Baltimore County police on Tuesday announced four additional arrests. Two 15-year-olds, Andrew Omar Allen and Yahkeem Zavion Wheatley, were charged as adults with attempted first-degree murder and robbery. Garry Leroy Baker Jr., 16, was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, robbery, and first-degree assault. Samtoya Isiah Wiliams, 17, was charged as an adult with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and robbery.
Police also issued a warrant for Keenan Tylike Holloway, 20, "in connection" with the Dundalk beating. Halloway, police said, is being held in Baltimore on unrelated charges.
A 15-year-old girl who previously was charged as a juvenile is now facing charges as an adult. Mya Lashae Stewart was indicted by a county grand jury last week with attempted first-degree murder, robbery and related charges. Police also previously arrested Antoine Willie Lawson, 17, who was indicted by the grand jury last week for attempted first-degree murder and other charges.
No more arrests are expected, police said. None of the individuals arrested have attorneys listed in court records, and all but Stewart were being held in jail.
Tuesday evening Stewart's mother, Kim Stewart, said while her daughter has been in trouble before, she's never involved in anything this serious. Being charged and jailed for two weeks had been a wake-up call for her daughter, Kim Stewart said. She said her daughter wasn't among the girls who were fighting, but admitted to kicking the victim.
"She was wrong for what she did. I pray she learns her lesson from this," Kim Stewart said.
The principal of Baltimore Community High School, an alternative school just across the Baltimore City line from the neighborhood, has previously acknowledged her students were involved in the assault. School officials did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The school is tentatively scheduled to close in 2017.
Neighbors have said that when students are dismissed from school, some cause trouble on their way to Maryland Transit Administration bus stops in the community. Neighbors have said they've dealt with littering, fights and teens blocking traffic by walking in the streets.
County police have increased their presence around the school at dismissal time, and will continue to do so through the end of the school year, said spokesman Cpl. John Wachter.
Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell, a Dundalk Republican, said he's pleased police have made arrests and stepped up patrols.
"I really feel for the residents," he said. "The home they live in is their life's investment, and they've had to deal with a nuisance school for a number of years. It's unfortunate that a near tragedy like this had to happen to open everyone's eyes."
State Sen. Johnny Ray Salling, a Dundalk Republican, said lawmakers have met with state agencies to discuss possible solutions, such as relocating MTA bus stops to bring the students closer to the school. Any changes probably wouldn't be made until after the current school year, he said. MTA officials could not provide information Tuesday about any changes under consideration.
The Harbor View Neighborhood Association launched an online fundraising campaign to support the victim. More than $49,000 has been raised.
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