Female pastor shot dead in Baltimore

Latina Ashburne, an associate pastor and a teacher's aide, was gunned down by an unknown man Friday morning, May 27 as she got into her car outside her home in North Baltimore.

"We don't have a motive in this case. We don't know why this took place, and it's absolutely concerning to us," police spokesman T.J. Smith told The Baltimore Sun.

Police reports revealed that the 41-year-old woman was shot in the upper body by an unknown man at 7:30 a.m. as she got into her car outside her home in the 2900 block of Rosalind Ave. in the Cylburn neighborhood.

Rev. Christian Hall said that Ashburne, his niece, was an introvert and considered herself a "prayer warrior" who had preached since her teens at churches in the area and helped those who were in need.

"She started as a young minister and just kind of fell in love with ministry," Hall shared.

Hall is the senior pastor for Kingdom Restoration Center church on York Road where Ashburne served as an associate pastor. She also worked as an elementary school aide at Francis Scott Key Elementary School.

"She was not only an elder, but also the youth coordinator of our ministry. She loved helping young people," explained Hall.

The police, who have yet to identify the shooter, have released a video footage that captured the suspect running away from the scene with a shirt over his head. They have called on anyone who may be able to pinpoint the man.

"These aren't new criminals," Smith stated. "These are the same bad guys that continually terrorize the citizens of Baltimore, and you have situations like this."

The police in Baltimore are busier than ever with a reported 16 percent surge in crimes from the past year. At least eight people have been killed since Wednesday.

"It's terrible," said 90-year-old resident James Rodgers. "It wasn't like this years ago. It's mostly these youngsters causing the trouble. They don't want to go get a job."