Seven shot - three killed - in shootings two miles and 45 minutes apart in Northeast Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Seven people were shot - three of them died - in shootings two miles, and 45 minutes, apart Tuesday evening in Northeast Baltimore.

Police say two people - 22-year-old Darren Barnes and 19-year-old Craig Phillips Jr. - were killed in a shooting in the 5500 block of Plainfield Avenue, around 6:30 p.m. Two others - ages 18 and 22 - were also shot, but are expected to survive.

Police said they were in a yard when someone open fired.

"I’m sitting in the bedroom folding clothes, just came out of the laundry area, and I hear this pop pop and I’m like, who’s setting off firecrackers, and it’s raining outside,” said a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.

Police don't have any suspect information or a motive.

"It was really crazy it was heartbreaking to see someone actually laying on the ground that was my first time," a neighbor said.

Officers said that more than 10 shots were fired.

"This is a neighborhood that's extremely quiet filled with people who are dedicated to the neighborhood, they love their neighborhood, they believe in their neighborhood," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "To have someone just cowardly come and shoot four people, disturbing that peace for whatever reason it is, just shows you that no matter what, where you are, people still want to resort to violence to resolve any dispute or conflict."

Around 7:15 p.m., three people were struck by gunfire in the 3100 block of Chesterfield Avenue. One of them, identified as 19-year-old Brian Jones, later died.

Police are now investigating 151 murders this year.

Officers have not said if the shootings are connected.

"You just took their life away. They don’t have their family member anymore," a neighbor said. "Y’all just broke up a whole family, multiple families, just change multiple peoples lives."