Damien Carlton

Damien Carlton was 37 years old when his life was taken on a summer afternoon in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. A Black man, Damien was one of eight homicide victims identified by city police during a tragically violent six-day period in August 2019. His death was part of a spike in violence that saw five separate shootings occur in less than nine hours on the day he was killed.

On Sunday, August 11, 2019, around 3:00 p.m., police were called to the 200 block of North Eutaw Street, near the historic Lexington Market. When officers arrived, they found Damien Carlton suffering from gunshot wounds. Paramedics rushed him to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, but he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. The shooting happened in a busy commercial area of Central Baltimore, a place familiar to thousands of residents who frequent the market and surrounding businesses.

The Baltimore Police Department's homicide unit immediately began an investigation into Damien's death. Detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. In the months that followed, investigators turned to the public for help in solving the crime. In October and November 2019, the department released a series of surveillance photographs showing an individual they identified as a person of interest. Police stated they believed this person was connected to the murder and wanted to question him. The images, though grainy, showed a man in a white t-shirt and dark pants.

Authorities circulated the photos through local news outlets, asking anyone who could identify the individual to come forward. They emphasized that community cooperation was crucial to bringing justice for Damien Carlton and his loved ones. A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest. The Baltimore Police Department urged anyone with knowledge of the case to contact homicide detectives directly at (410) 396-2100 or to leave an anonymous tip with the Metro Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-866-7LOCKUP. A text tip line was also made available.

Despite the public appeals and the release of the surveillance images, the investigation has not resulted in any publicly announced arrests. The case remains open and is an active homicide investigation. As of the last available reports in November 2019, no suspects had been officially named, and the person of interest sought for questioning had not been identified. The motive for the shooting has not been released by authorities.

The loss of Damien Carlton was a profound blow to his family and community, one of many lives cut short by gun violence in Baltimore that year. His case remains a painful, unanswered question for those who knew him and for a city grappling with the persistent tragedy of homicide. The investigation into who killed Damien Carlton continues, awaiting the key piece of information that could finally lead to a breakthrough.