Former Safe Streets worker’s criminal case goes federal

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A 51-year-old Baltimore man who worked at the Belvedere Safe Streets location is no longer facing state charges after police say he was involved in a June shooting caught on surveillance video; instead, federal charges are in the pipeline.

Antoine Burton was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing on several state charges, including attempted first-degree murder. But instead of moving forward with those charges, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office is no longer pursuing the case, and it’s in the hands of federal prosecutors.

By referring the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Burton faces potential penalties for not only the gun charge, “but also for violating his federal supervision,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said in a statement.

“Based on his criminal history, he may also qualify as an Armed Career Criminal, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to a maximum of Life in prison for illegally possessing a firearm,” Bates continued. “Collectively, these penalties could keep Mr. Burton incarcerated well into his late 60s or early 70s.”

The case stems from a June 7 shooting FOX45 News obtained on surveillance video from a gas station on Park Heights Avenue.

51-year-old Antione Burton (The Baltimore Police Department)

The video shows a man walking out of the store before police say Burton follows behind him, pulls a gun and opens fire. The suspect then turns around and walks back inside.

Court documents say police used the surveillance video to piece together what happened and, with help from a confidential informant, identified Burton as the suspect.

Baltimore Police later tracked Burton to his apartment in the city. According to court records, Burton waived his rights during an interview and admitted to having an “altercation” with the victim at the store. He also told police he threw away the clothes he had been wearing.

Police say a weapon recovered in the investigation contained live cartridges and matched a gun reported stolen from West Virginia.

Burton’s criminal history dates back to 1993 and includes convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon, escape from confinement, drug possession and attempted second-degree murder in 2022. Court records also show he was previously indicted in 2020 on federal charges for possessing a semiautomatic pistol and ammunition.

FOX45 News obtained the latest federal criminal complaint filed July 7. In that complaint, an ATF agent points to information provided by Baltimore Police, along with the surveillance footage, while alleging Burton unlawfully possessed a weapon due to his criminal history.

Burton had been on leave at the time of his arrest and was also on probation. Being on probation does not automatically prevent someone from being hired as a violence interrupter, according to LifeBridge Health, which operates the Belvedere Safe Streets location.

LifeBridge said Burton was specifically recommended by members of the community.

The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, MONSE, previously defended its hiring process, saying it has “rigorous hiring practices.” A spokesperson also said employment would be ended for any staff member who makes personal choices that do not uphold the integrity of the program’s mission and standards.

Jason Johnson, a former deputy Baltimore police commissioner and law enforcement expert, said screening Safe Streets workers is essential.

“This is a difficult issue, you know, for the city, because the whole idea of the Safe Streets program is to have violence interrupters that, you know, have credibility in the community,” Johnson said during an interview for FOX45 News In Depth.

But, he added, finding credible messengers who have turned their lives around can be a challenge.

“In order to do that as a prerequisite, you sort of have to have a criminal background,” Johnson said. “And being on probation just doesn’t show enough of a track record.”

Asked whether cases like this erode public trust, Johnson said they do.

“Certainly it undermines public trust, and it’s hard to recover the public trust when most of the details of the program are unknown to the public,” he said.

It’s possible the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office moves forward with the attempted homicide charge in the future, Bates noted in his statement.

“This decision reflects our commitment to pursuing the most effective prosecution possible, securing the most appropriate sentence available under the law, and continuing our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to keep violent repeat offenders off our streets,” Bates added.

MONSE told FOX45 News Wednesday afternoon that Burton is officially no longer with the program.

FOX45 News will continue to follow Burton’s case in the federal court system.

Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.