Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott spoke out on Monday regarding the recent arrest of Antione Burton, a leader in the city's community violence intervention efforts. Burton, 51, was arrested in connection with a nonfatal shooting that occurred on Sunday, raising concerns about the integrity of the city's violence prevention programs.
Scott emphasized that Burton's actions do not reflect the goals of the taxpayer-funded Safe Streets initiative, which aims to reduce violence in the city. "This individual's actions are a disgrace," Scott stated, expressing disappointment that Burton, who is also a pastor and heads the nonprofit We Our Us, allegedly violated the trust placed in him as a community activist.
Burton was taken into custody without incident shortly after the shooting and faces charges of attempted murder and weapons violations, according to the Baltimore Police Department. His case has not yet appeared in Maryland's court database.
Despite the incident, Mayor Scott urged the community to continue supporting the Safe Streets program, which has received significant funding, including over $1.2 million in government grants in 2024 alone. He reiterated that this incident should not overshadow the positive impact of the Safe Streets initiative in the community.
Scott remarked, "As this individual answers for his personal actions, we will continue to hold our Safe Streets teams to the highest standards for conduct, and they will continue their lifesaving work to prevent violence and uplift our communities."
Burton's organization, We Our Us, received $6 million from the state in August, despite reports of outstanding tax payments exceeding $200,000. This incident is part of a broader trend where several violence prevention workers have faced criminal charges in cities that promote alternative outreach methods for public safety.
Reported by HarborBeat based on AOL.com (source).
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