The first thing I saw this morning was FOI Captain Andrew Muhammad from Muhammad Mosque Number Six in Baltimore City. It was a social media post of he and several other Black male leaders pleading with our city.

In response to an 11-year-old being shot on a playground by a blast from a shotgun, Captain Andrew and others took to the streets, as they regularly do when violent crimes permeate the streets of our beloved Baltimore.

“What we have here is another case of weak-ass men who cannot resolve their petty conflict without gunfire.”

These are words spoken by our Mayor, Brandon Scott, as he too immediately responded to the awful news of a child being shot.

Due to the inability to resolve conflict in a more reasonable manner, a 26-year-old man (speculated to be the intended target) and an 11-year-old child are both hospitalized in stable condition.

The child was shot in the abdomen while playing on the playground of the school he attends during the 7 o’clock hour of a nice Wednesday evening.

Where else should he have been?

This asinine incident hit me like a ton of bricks for obvious reasons. Gun violence is traumatic. And kids should not be shot while playing. Or at any other time, if you ask me.

But the other reason why this is so personal to me is because I’m quite familiar with the school and its playground located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Dolphin Street in West Baltimore.

I spent five wonderful years teaching there early in my career. I honed my skills to become an educator and community engager under some of the most dynamic leadership in the Baltimore City Public Schools system there.

So this saddens me.

This feels like family has been violated.

Can you imagine how the school community will be impacted by this tragedy?

The end of the school year is supposed to be celebratory. We’re supposed to be planning closing ceremonies, field day activities, and excursions. No school leader nor faculty should have to deal with the attempted murder of a scholar. A child. An 11-year-old elementary school student.

The hallways that were always joyful and joyous sounding are expected to be impaired this week, and possibly for the remainder of the school year.

Tears from staff, students, and families alike will undoubtedly flow.

Questions from curious and inquisitive young minds concerning the matter will go unanswered.

Not ignored.

Just unanswered.

Because there’s no rational or logical response to be given.

Extra support staff will be on hand. Counseling and therapeutic practices will be offered to everyone at the school impacted by the shooting of one of their own.

And the school leadership will do everything within their power to hold the fort together, present resolve to the best of their ability, and carry on — steadily moving the school forward in the most humanistic manner possible, even in the midst of such inhumane and cowardly acts by individuals who apparently have no regard for human life.

Yes, the school on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Dolphin Street will continue to do what it has always done:

Be there for one another.

Support one another during these dark times.

Encourage one another.

Continue to be the beacon of light that it has always been to the people of West Baltimore.

I pray that the young scholar has a speedy recovery.

I pray that he has a full recovery.

I pray that he receives the best care possible.

I pray that he feels love and support from his school family and community.

I pray that he realizes that he’s not alone.

And I pray that the school community as a whole receives the proper support needed to pull through this tragic event.

I say this prayer in the name of my LORD and SAVIOR.

AMEN.

It’s imperative that we stop the violence jeopardizing the lives of our most vulnerable family and community members.

Gun violence is not the solution to resolving conflict in our communities.

There are too many untrained, unlicensed, unintelligent, emotional, gun-toting Clyde’s running around our city aimlessly shooting at shadows.

Put the guns down.

Find a better way to resolve your conflicts.

One that will prevent our innocent children from getting shot. While playing on the playground.