AFRO Staff
A full 10 years have passed since the May 3 conclusion of the riots that broke out after the death of Freddie Gray, the Baltimore man who brutally lost his life in April 2015.
Freddie Gray died on April 19 after sustaining injuries during an April 12 arrest by Baltimore Police Department officers.
“That day changed our life — my mother’s and ours,” said Fredricka Gray, twin sister to Freddie Gray, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “They didn’t break a family, but it changed us. We never wanted the platform. We never wanted the attention. We never wanted the money. We just wanted Freddie. And that’s not going to happen. And that breaks my heart every day.”
Freddie Gray’s funeral took place on April 27, 2015 as Charm City descended into chaos. Cars and properties burned during what became known as the “Baltimore Uprising.” Members of the Maryland National Guard lined the streets to keep the peace and a curfew was put into place. On May 3,2015 the riots ended.
Now, 10 years later, local officials point to the changes that have taken place since the death of the 25-year-old man who called West Baltimore home. The Baltimore Police Department is working towards goals laid out in a consent degree with the Department of Justice. Last year, voters also voted to give control of the police department to local officials instead of the state government.
In his 2025 State of the City address, Scott noted the progress in reducing violent crime. In 2015, the City recorded 344 homicides. By 2020, that number was 335 – lower, but not by much. This prompted leaders to take more action with a new plan.
“When I announced Baltimore’s first-ever Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan and said we were going to reduce homicides by 15 percent every year, people didn’t think it was possible,” said Scott. “That first year, we didn’t hit 15 percent. And they laughed, and they kept doubting. But we stuck to our strategy: and here we are, four years later. There were 335 homicides in 2020. There were 201 in 2024. That’s down 40 percent. Shootings were down 43 percent over that time.”
“In the first few months of 2025, we’ve had the fewest homicides in 50 years,” continued Scott. “Think about that: Baltimore has less violence today than we’ve had in 50 years.”
During the entire month of April 2025, only five people lost their lives to homicide in the City of Baltimore — the fewest ever recorded in a single month.
According to information released by the Office of the Mayor, “Through the end of April, homicides are down 31.6 percent and nonfatal shootings are down 27.1 percent, compared to last year. Thus far in 2025, Baltimore has seen the lowest number of homicides to start a year in recorded history.”
“This continued progress is a direct result of our comprehensive violence prevention plan, and all who are working in partnership to reduce violence in Baltimore,” said Mayor Scott. “That includes the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, the entire community violence intervention ecosystem, the Attorney General, the State’s Attorney, and most importantly, the people of Baltimore.”
Scott said that the progress is noteworthy, but that city officials “aren’t stopping to celebrate.”
“Five homicides in April is still five too many — and we will continue to use all tools at our disposal to prevent violence and save lives,” he said. “Baltimore deserves nothing less.”
Former judge and attorney Billy Murphy represented the family after the tragic death, helping Gray’s relatives secure a $6.4 million settlement.
“We are honored to support the Gray family. The pain never goes away, but Freddie’s legacy is strong, and that’s where we will focus,” said Murphy, in a statement.
Murphy said it’s important to remember Gray, “honor his memory — and to reflect on what his death revealed to the world.”
Ten years later, while Gray’s death still brings a sense of mourning, Murphy says it should also spark a “commitment — to justice, to truth, and to a future where no more lives are lost to the system that took Freddie’s.”