Penn-North Tragedy Reveals Deep Cracks in West Baltimore’s Response System

(BALTIMORE – July 17, 2025) – Last week, tragedy struck West Baltimore yet again. A suspected batch of tainted “testers” — possibly laced with antifreeze or xylazine — wreaked havoc around the Penn-North intersection, long considered one of Baltimore’s most notorious drug corners. The area, made internationally famous during the 2015 Freddie Gray uprising, continues to bear the weight of systemic neglect and generational trauma.

On Thursday, July 11, a wave of overdoses hit the two-block radius around Pennsylvania and North Avenues, sending 27 people to the hospital — at least five in critical condition. The incident began around 4 a.m. and overwhelmed first responders throughout the day.

All victims were revived using naloxone (Narcan), though officials believe the drugs were laced with substances — possibly xylazine (a horse tranquilizer) or even antifreeze — that are resistant to Narcan and not detectable via field tests. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently analyzing the contaminated supply.

Despite the scale of the incident, no official deaths have been confirmed. City health officials and the mayor’s office have been largely silent. While some on the street report fatalities, no public data has been released, leaving the community with more questions than answers.

As much as we’ve supported the “New Baltimore” vision — and still believe in it — we must also tell the truth. And the truth is, this tragedy has been met with near silence from city leadership. Nearly three dozen hospitalized, and not a single official press conference? The community deserves better.

Senator Antonio Hayes Steps Forward

In the absence of a citywide response, State Senator Antonio Hayes (D-40), who represents the Penn-North area, issued a full statement:

“For too long, Penn-North has been underinvested in. And while progress has been made, there is still so much more work to do.

Our neighbors here – and in communities like Penn-North across the city – are sick, hurting, and too often forgotten. They don’t just need help today while the cameras are rolling. They need sustained, long-term support after the headlines fade.

That’s why the Mayor, the Governor, and I are committed to more than just temporary fixes. We are working to deliver wraparound services that offer real opportunity, real healing, and real change.

And let me be clear: As long as I am Senator, Penn-North will never be left behind. I will continue to walk alongside this community – not just in moments of crisis, but in the everyday work of rebuilding and reimagining what’s possible.

Rome wasn’t built in a day – and we know the challenges won’t disappear overnight. But we will show up, every single day, to work. To listen. To serve. To support this community not just to survive, but to thrive.

And so today, I ask everyone within the sound of my voice: Pray for Penn-North. Pray for healing. Because we need it.”

Unbeknownst to many, Sen. Hayes has been in public service since age 12. A 48-year-old native of Penn-North, he knows the landscape and the typical life trajectory all too well. He understands firsthand how the drug pandemic has crippled his community. Recently, he helped bring over $50 million in state resources to West North Avenue.

In fact, he spearheaded the creation of the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) with bipartisan support. This investment builds upon resources already anchored at Coppin State University and its surrounding area since 2002. Coppin’s footprint now spans from Baker Street to Gwynns Falls Parkway. This long-overdue investment also produced a home for Citywide Youth Development’s EMAGE Center at 2132 W. North Avenue.

WNADA was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2021 to lead revitalization efforts along the West North Avenue corridor in West Baltimore. Its mission is to drive equitable development through investment in housing, small businesses, transportation, and public infrastructure — all while centering restorative justice and community input. WNADA supports 16 surrounding neighborhoods, including Penn-North, and works closely with partners like Coppin State University and MICA to ensure long-term, inclusive growth.

Community Voices Sound Off

Annie Hall, President of the Penn-North Community Association, called the recent crisis “a travesty for this community,” telling BMORENews.com:

“Many of the individuals huddled around Penn-North aren’t even from here… I was impressed with how the City went door to door. That kind of hands-on outreach should be ongoing — and should include Baltimore City agencies and the State of Maryland as active partners.”

In an exclusive conversation, a local business owner who has worked in the area since 1980 — speaking anonymously — offered a blunt assessment:

“This isn’t just a fentanyl crisis. It’s a ‘let people do whatever they want’ crisis. You’ve got folks hanging out all day, selling $3 pills. Is that a drug crisis — or just loitering?

Since Freddie Gray? No, I didn’t expect more. Broadway and Center Stage are known for theater. Pennsylvania Avenue? Still known for drugs. That’s the reality.

They built a CVS to push more drugs — now they’re closing it. Ain’t that wild?

Penn-North is a subway hub now. Folks selling phones, running their hustle from trucks — same old game.

Sure, Habitat built some houses. Sen. Antonio Hayes and others are doing good work at the top. Maybe one day it’ll all click. But right now? Nah. I’ve lived in Sandtown since I was 16. I’m 62.”

Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, a respected civil rights leader from the Matthew Henson community, added:

“For 10 years, the City of Baltimore as a result of the Freddie Gray Riots, did nothing, and now that there’s funding involved, they’re going to act like they’re going to do something. I went to seven locations this afternoon. It looks like they only went to two, maybe three — Harvey Johnson Towers, Frederick Douglass Apartments, Gilmor Homes.

I was at Penn-North when the Mayor came. This has been going on for 10 years.

It’s like rolling dice. I passed out flyers about job opportunities last week. By Saturday morning, there were 30 addicts — clearly visible. Our neighborhoods are heavily Black. But now you see white addicts all over — in the alleys, passed out in the middle of the street. Fifteen to twenty percent of people at Penn-North are white now.

It’s unbelievable. Every two or three blocks, there’s a rehab center. And still, the dirt and the grime — it’s Monday through Sunday.

We know what the issue is. It’s money. Now that funding is here, they’re saying the right things. But for 10 years? We got nothing.”

Stokey Cannady, former mayoral candidate and longtime youth advocate, offered a deeper lens:

“I think the guys who perpetrated that were actually trying to present the best product — and it was too powerful. I don’t think it was intentional. When they gave out the testers, people with weak immune systems couldn’t handle it. They gave out 100 of them. And people still want it… because it was so powerful.

That’s the mindset of an addict.

We don’t give credit to people who make a difference. Ivan Bates, regardless of politics, has stood firm on gun accountability.

Those folks were trying to fight that misery with that narcotic. They didn’t know it was tainted. The testers were free. It took a toll.

A lot of the things we talk about are social, not political. People are looking the wrong way for solutions. You can’t fix something unless you know how it works.

I tell people, I got jobs. But I can’t employ the whole community.

If I had help — if government gave me a real shot — I’d take the lead guy and walk him down to Under Armour. Not to prison. To a job.

You give that guy a paycheck? The rest will follow. We’re creatures of habit.”

Alexandria Warrick Adams, Executive Director of Elev8 Baltimore, stood in solidarity with grassroots leadership:

“We stand with local leaders who recognize this crisis as a product of structural racism and decades of disinvestment.

Through ENOUGH @ 21217, we believe only local leadership and authentic community voice can drive change. To those chasing funding — it’s time to yield to those who’ve been here.”

Yolanda Pulley, founder of People Empowered By The Struggle (PEBTS), added:

“It’s the same behavior over and over — doesn’t matter the party or politician. They all abandon Pennsylvania Avenue once the cameras are gone.

Where are the resources they promised? Now we’re pushing ‘harm reduction,’ but that doesn’t even help people sniffing or popping pills. Not everyone injects.

We deserve better. I’m tired of the lies. The $400 million in opioid money? Where’s the conversation?

This is like a hurricane. And once the water recedes, the politicians vanish.”

Broader Context: A Deadly Year

While this incident did not officially claim lives, Baltimore’s broader overdose crisis remains deadly — especially in West Baltimore. The 21217 ZIP code, which includes Penn-North, saw 73 fatal overdoses between June 2024 and May 2025 — among the highest rates in the city.

Citywide, 833 people died from overdoses in 2023, ranking Baltimore among the deadliest cities in the nation. Harm reduction efforts like naloxone distribution and outreach continue, but advocates insist sustained access to housing, healthcare, and employment is critical.

What Happens Next?

Drug samples are under investigation. Lab results may confirm what residents already suspect: a contaminated batch — distributed as free “testers” — poisoned an already vulnerable population.

Meanwhile, the community waits — for truth, accountability, and healing.

BMORENews.com will continue to report what others won’t. Because West Baltimore deserves to be seen, heard, and protected — not just when the headlines hit, but in the difficult days that follow.

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