BALTIMORE — A Baltimore man was arrested Sunday in the recent shooting of a 12-year-old girl who was found dead on the first floor of an east Baltimore rowhome.
The shooting occurred Friday night. Police said they quickly identified Omar Passmore, 28, as a suspect. Passmore had a child with the victim’s mother, according to charging documents.
Police believe he was the only person inside the house with the victim, 12-year-old Breaunna Cormley, when she was killed.
The charging documents don’t include any information about a possible motive, saying only that Passmore shot the victim “for unknown reasons.”
Police interviewed several witnesses and created a timeline of events. They said Breaunna was home alone when Passmore entered the house and loud yelling could be heard.
Passmore was later seen sitting on the home’s front steps before fleeing the area on foot.
“This young lady had a whole life ahead of her, but a coward took her life,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said during a news conference Friday night. “It’s a kid. That’s all that matters. You’re talking about a 12-year-old girl.”
Officials released few details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, but Police Commissioner Richard Worley said it was targeted.
“I can tell you it wasn’t accidental. It was not accidental. It was done on purpose,” he said.
Two days after the Friday night shooting, a 14-year-old boy was shot to death in west Baltimore. The victim was later identified as Jasper Davis and police released photos Monday morning of a suspect in that case.
Gun violence in Baltimore has overall been trending downward since last year, resulting in significant decreases in homicides and nonfatal shootings. In 2023, the city recorded less than 300 homicides for the first time in nearly a decade. That positive trend continued throughout the first half of 2024, though the past several weeks have seen an uptick in violence.
Baltimore police have made an arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl that shocked the community and sparked outrage across the city. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, where the young girl was struck by a stray bullet while playing outside with friends.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a 19-year-old male who has been charged with first-degree murder and various other offenses related to the shooting. The arrest comes after an intensive investigation by the Baltimore Police Department, who worked tirelessly to track down the individual responsible for this senseless act of violence.
The shooting has once again highlighted the issue of gun violence in Baltimore, a city that has long struggled with high rates of crime and homicide. Community leaders and residents have expressed their shock and sadness over the death of the young girl, who was described as a bright and promising student with a bright future ahead of her.
In response to the tragedy, local activists and organizations have called for increased efforts to address the root causes of violence in Baltimore, including poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and easy access to firearms. They are urging city officials to invest in programs that provide support and resources to at-risk youth, as well as to implement stricter gun control measures to prevent future tragedies.
The arrest in this case is seen as a small victory in the fight against gun violence in Baltimore, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, especially children. The community is coming together to mourn the loss of the young girl and to demand justice for her and her family.
As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward and assist in bringing those responsible to justice. The hope is that by working together, the community can prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future and create a safer and more peaceful city for all residents.
