UPDATE: Governor Hogan announced Saturday that he will be doubling the reward money for information leading to an arrest in Timothy Reynolds' death.
The reward money is now up to $16,000.
The State of Maryland is offering an additional $8,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the murder of Timothy Reynolds.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 9, 2022
We are urging anyone with information to contact @MCSMaryland at 1-866-756-2587. https://t.co/aO1fT3JEHV
In the heart of downtown Baltimore is Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium with the Orioles and Ravens bring in large crowds.
RELATED: Squeegeeing: The story from the streets
Then, sitting near downtown intersections are children, teens and adults squeegeeing cars, in an attempt to earn money.
In some instances, these squeegee workers continue to harass drivers.
RELATED: Maryland Gubernatorial candidate to address plan to get Baltimore's 'squeegee boys' off streets
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says squeegee boys are a reason people are scared to visit downtown Baltimore.
“It has certainly been a major impact of people being afraid to come to the city because they have been harassed for years and years,” Hogan said.
The controversy, and concern for safety, took a turn Thursday.
After an altercation, a driver got out of his car near the intersection of Light and Conway streets and swung his baseball bat at the group.
Police said a squeegee worker then pulled out a gun and shot and killed the driver around 4:30 p.m., during the middle of the day and just blocks away from where the Orioles were getting ready to host the Los Angeles Angels.
“This was just the pinnacle of the problem right in downtown, across from the Inner Harbor, with somebody getting shot,” Gov. Hogan said. “It’s another tragic incident in Baltimore that we unfortunately hear about far too often, seems like on a weekly basis.”
MORE: Squeegee boys drain woman's account after using her Cash App
MORE: City calls squeegee boys 'disconnected youth,' creates jobs for them at the Hilton
Near the Inner Harbor, at the same intersection, and just three hours earlier, a 41-year-old man filed a police report on a squeegee worker who reportedly damaged his car.
Police said as the man was confronting him, the squeegee worker pointed a gun. Officers arrested an 18-year-old with a BB gun.
“I think the squeegee workers have been a terrible problem for many years and it has not been addressed by the City,” Gov. Hogan said.
In February, the City of Baltimore changed the squeegee boys name to "Disconnected Youth That Squeegee.’
The City also launched employment opportunities for them to get them off the street.
One of the effort by the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement was launching an Employer Coalition. The Canopy Hilton Hotel was the first of what they hope will be many partners to employ the teens.
Two cohorts of 10 youth will be hired for a 13-week period and paid $15 an hour. They will get three weeks of workforce training from MOAAME and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, as well as a mentor.
Disconnected youth, who are interested, are referred to MOAAME’s Connect 2 Success Program. Youth must be willing to complete the required engagement and approval programmatic processes.
The African American Engagement Baltimore network hosted a job readiness event and job fair for squeegee workers and young job-seekers Thursday. Friday was the hiring event with on the spot job offers. A total of 40 jobs were available.
"No. I don’t think their plan is working. It is quite obvious that it is not working," Gov. Hogan said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the hiring of former Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale as Deputy Mayor of Public Safety.
"I was happy to hear the mayor just made the decision to bring Barksdale back for Deputy Mayor of Public Safety. I think that’s a good move," Gov. Hogan said. "He is a guy that understands violent crime and how to deal with it. They need a new plan."
