A tragic and deeply personal loss unfolded on Mother’s Day in Southwest Baltimore as 23-year-old Taniya Gray was fatally shot inside a vehicle on the morning of her birthday.
Baltimore Police say Gray was discovered around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, in the 4100 block of Mountwood Road with multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
According to neighbors, Gray was a young mother, and the shooting occurred on both Mother’s Day and her 23rd birthday, making the tragedy all the more heartbreaking. One local resident told WJZ that she heard gunshots and looked outside to find a vehicle had crashed into her parked car. Inside that vehicle was Gray, fatally wounded.
Police have not released details on possible suspects or motives. Anyone with information is urged to contact Baltimore Police at 410-396-2100 or leave an anonymous tip with Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
Rising Toll of Gun Violence in Baltimore
As of May 12, 2025, Baltimore has recorded 45 homicides, a decrease from 61 at the same point in 2024. Still, the numbers paint a grim picture: 108 people have been shot so far this year compared to 147 in 2024.
WJZ’s gun violence tracker reports that over the past 12 months, 2,500 individuals in Baltimore were victims of gun-related crimes—ranging from threats at gunpoint to deadly shootings. Victims ages 30 to 34 represent the largest demographic impacted.
Recent Cases Highlight Growing Concern
The killing of Taniya Gray follows several other recent tragedies involving gun violence:
On May 8, police arrested Rodsheead Alexander, 34, Zion Wimbish, 19, and Ra’Shawn Smith, 19, for the first-degree murder of 15-year-old John Lewis, who was shot and later died at the hospital.
On May 3, 6-year-old Micah Comegys died from a gunshot wound in a Southwest Baltimore home.
Authorities found the firearm inside the residence, and Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley has vowed to pursue charges if the weapon was not properly secured.
A City in Mourning and in Search of Answers
The loss of Taniya Gray underscores the deeply personal impact of gun violence in Baltimore, where shootings often take lives far too soon and leave families shattered.
As her loved ones grieve a mother and daughter taken on the very day meant to celebrate her life, police continue to search for answers.
Community members and city officials are calling for justice and greater action to address the systemic issues fueling gun violence in Baltimore’s neighborhoods.
If you have any information about Taniya Gray’s case, please come forward.
