A rented funeral spilled onto the church steps. Minutes later, a man was shot.

What happened

On Saturday afternoon, October 24, 2026, a funeral at Open Bible Church on West Overlea Avenue in Northeast Baltimore ended just before 1:45 p.m. A large crowd came out onto the front steps, The Baltimore Banner reported. Within minutes, neighbors said, dozens of people were yelling and pushing each other on the steps and in the street, and then shots were fired.

Baltimore police said officers found a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, and police have not said what his condition is. A neighbor told WJZ and The Banner that a man holding a gun with what looked like an extended magazine ran through his yard toward the back of the church after the shots.

Pastor Kevin English told WJZ that the family had rented the church for the funeral and was not affiliated with Open Bible, and that the shooting involved two people who were at the service. He was not there when it happened. Police said the investigation is ongoing and have not released any suspect information.

What safety teams can take from it

• A rental is still your building. When an outside group rents your space, your people may not be there. Your rental agreement should spell out security: who is responsible, whether your team or hired off-duty officers have to be present, and when an event can be ended.
• Funerals carry their own risks. They bring together big, emotional crowds, sometimes with family conflict or ongoing disputes. Ask the family ahead of time whether there are tensions you should know about, and staff for that.
• Watch the exit, not just the entry. This started when the service let out and the crowd gathered on the steps. Keep people outside as the room empties, and keep the crowd moving toward cars instead of collecting at the doors.
• Arguments are the warning sign. Neighbors heard arguing before the shots. Have someone trained to spot rising voices and to call police early, before it turns physical, without wading into the middle of it.
• Know your lines to 911 and first aid. Pick who calls, who meets officers and who brings the bleeding-control kit, so it happens quickly even when the church’s regular team isn’t on site.