36-Year-Old Man Shot During South Baltimore Robbery; Suspect Arrested
A 36-year-old man was shot during a robbery in South Baltimore and a 31-year-old suspect, Preston Freeman, was arrested; the incident raises local public safety and health concerns.
A man was shot during a robbery in South Baltimore and later sought help at a nearby fire station, police said. The 36-year-old walked to the Baltimore City Fire Department station on the 400 block of Maude Avenue after the shooting, where officers were notified and medics transported him to an area hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Police say the shooting occurred during the course of a robbery on Feb. 10 in the 4000 block of 5th — sources differ on whether that was 5th Street or 5th Avenue — and that the victim then went to the Maude Avenue firehouse for aid. The discrepancy on the exact block name remains in the public reports; the arrest location is consistently reported as the 3900 block of 5th Street.
On Feb. 11, Southern District patrol officers arrested 31-year-old Preston Freeman without incident on the 3900 block of 5th Street. He was taken to the Central Booking Intake Facility and charged with attempted murder. No additional charges, weapon details, victim name, hospital identity, or court dates were released in the initial reports.
The incident underscores the everyday public health and community consequences of firearm violence in Baltimore. Even when wounds are not life-threatening, shootings produce cumulative strain on emergency medical services and neighborhood trauma. The fact that the injured man walked to a fire station before formal EMS arrival highlights how residents and front-line public servants often become the first responders in violent encounters.
For neighbors around South Baltimore, the arrest offers a measure of immediate law-enforcement response while also renewing questions about prevention, resources, and accountability. Southern District patrols were involved in the arrest, according to local reports, and the charged offense — attempted murder — will move through the Central Booking process before prosecutors file formal court documents. The case also speaks to broader equity issues: neighborhoods with concentrated poverty and limited access to youth services often bear a disproportionate burden of street violence and its long-term health consequences.
Baltimore Police encourage anyone with information to contact Southern District detectives at 410-396-2499 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup. Residents can also expect follow-up from police and court records as charging documents and hearing dates are set.
As the community awaits more details about the victim’s recovery and the court process for Preston Freeman, the episode serves as a reminder that preventing future shootings will require coordinated investment in public safety, trauma-informed emergency services, and the social supports that address the root causes of violence.
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