As released by the Office of the Mayor:

HARRISBURG – Mayor Eric Papenfuse on Sunday expressed his condolences to the family of Hauson Keeron Baltimore-Greene Jr., 18, who was killed Saturday night in a shooting in front of 30 N. 16th St., according to information provided by the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.

“We share the pain of the family in the death of this young man and call upon our city to support them in their grief,” said Mayor Papenfuse. “We must find a way to stop the violence that is claiming too many of our young people.”

Harrisburg Police said they are investigating the shooting of Baltimore-Greene, a former Harrisburg resident who was living in Steelton and attending Steelton-Highspire High School. Baltimore-Greene was on the porch of the 16th Street house when he was shot about 10 p.m. Saturday, police said.

The shooting comes a day after Papenfuse swore in eight new police officers who will begin patrols next week.

“These officers are among the best and brightest recruits anywhere in the country,” Papenfuse said. “They bring a great deal of strength to our force. And we are in the process of recruiting another 12 who should be on the streets in a few months.”

Papenfuse has made public safety and fighting crime a focus of his first two weeks in office. He swore in Police Chief Thomas Carter and new police Captain Derek Moody to strengthen the leadership of the Harrisburg Police. He announced collaboration with Susquehanna Township to bring in Chief Robert Martin as a consultant to start a new community policing initiative. In addition, Papenfuse has hired a new community policing coordinator to start working in neighborhoods to engage residents in fighting crime.

Papenfuse called upon the community to work with the police force to identify those responsible for Baltimore-Greene’s death, and to cooperate in new efforts to create safer neighborhoods.

“If we work together, we can save our children and stop the violence that is claiming far too many young lives,” Papenfuse said.

For more information, contact Joyce M. Davis at jdavis@cityofhbg.com; or call (717) 255-3015.

Photo/Natalie Cake