Neighbors demand answers after 15-year-old arrested for shooting in Middle River

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (WBFF) — A juvenile shooting in a Middle River neighborhood has left a young victim hospitalized in critical, but stable condition, raising fresh questions from neighbors about how a 15-year-old suspect got a gun.

Baltimore County police said the shooting happened at a house on Cutty Sark Road near Kittendale Road on Tuesday just after 6 p.m. Officers arrived and found a juvenile victim suffering from a gunshot wound, police said.

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A 15-year-old boy was arrested later and placed with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, according to police. Investigators have not released additional information, including a motive, and said the shooting remains under investigation.

Neighbors on the quiet street lined with townhomes said they were surprised by the violence and questioned where the gun came from.

“How did he get the gun?” one neighbor asked.

“Where did, whose gun is it? Where did it come from?” another neighbor questioned.

“Was it something he purchased? Was it something the parent had laying around or whatever?” a neighbor asked.

Another neighbor, Nicholas Palmere, described the shooting’s proximity as unsettling, saying, “It was crazy. It was right around the corner, it’s crazy when it’s close to home like that.”

Brandon Miller, a neighbor, said, “I don’t remember growing up in such a violent world, just shocking overall.”

The shooting also prompted neighbors to reflect on crime in Baltimore County and whether it feels like it has dropped.

During a community walk in Catonsville last month amid a string of break-ins, Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said, “We’ll be releasing our crime stats really soon for the end of 2025, but I can tell you across the board, crime is totally down in Baltimore County. And it’s down to significant lows historically. So, there is no uptick in crime in Baltimore County. However, if there’s a perception, that’s still a concern to us.”

Back on Cutty Sark Road, Miller said, “I feel like it’s up.”

Nicholas Palmere, another neighbor, said, “I’d like to think that it’s on the low,” but added, “unfortunately sometimes there’s going to be just stuff that happens. So, but I do like to think that it’s on the low. But it just sucks when it’s a kid.”

When asked about the relationship between the suspect and the victim, police said only that the juveniles know each other.