Douglas called the mass shooting an “eye-opener” for her in terms of gun violence, but said she’s ready to look ahead to find ways to keep children, like her 7-year-old son, Carter, safe.

In interviews with more than a dozen people who live in the Brooklyn Homes development, many described positive changes in the neighborhood.

Housing authority security guards now patrol the complex, which is under the management of new staff. Baltimore Police, who were faulted for “officer indifference” in their response to the event, are more visible, some said. Recently, some residents have finally become comfortable sitting outside again.

For Douglas, who works for Job Corps helping teenagers, seeing more police officers and housing security has made a difference.

“This guy isn’t going to pull out a gun and shoot this person because he’s mad about a drug deal going wrong,” she said.

Since Brooklyn Day, when she said police reacted too slowly, she has developed a good relationship with a particular officer. She said he patiently responded to an issue months ago, staying to talk and provide information even though the call could have been addressed via the city’s 311 nonemergency system. “If there’s more guys like him, put them all on the street,” she said.

‘A battle zone’

Two of the defense attorneys involved in the cases of the teenagers charged in nonfatal shootings that night don’t think police will be able to charge anyone with homicide.

Of five teens accused of participating in the chaotic shootout, four pleaded guilty to varying roles. None admitted shooting anyone, despite four being charged with attempted murder.

The prosecution’s evidence included black-and-white CCTV footage from the housing complex, as well as cartridge casings that police linked to guns later confiscated from the defendants. Describing the video as showing “mayhem,” attorney Warren Brown didn’t think it would help a murder case.

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