I am pastor of St. Matthew and Blessed Sacrament Churches in Baltimore City. For the last two months we have been talking and praying in our churches about the death of McKenzie Elliott, the three-year-old girl who was shot on her front porch on 36th Street and Old York Road on Friday, Aug. 1. We have e-mailed and called some City Council members asking them to assist in whatever way they can in moving the investigation. To date, no one has been arrested.
Jan. 1, 2015, is the five-month anniversary of her death. With all of the protests in our nation about violent deaths to the innocent of our communities, where is the voice for McKenzie Elliott? There are a few voices in the Baltimore community who keep raising this question, but it seems like very little response. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts announced on the day of the murder that someone would be in custody the following week. This is the 22nd week, and no one is in custody. This is unacceptable! Why does there seem to be so much silence from the Police Department, the City Council, and the community around this little girl's death? Many people are waiting for an answer.
Fr. Joe Muth, Baltimore
The writer is pastor of St. Matthew and Blessed Sacrament Catholic churches.