A quiet Thursday morning turned into a nightmare in West Baltimore after a suspected drug-laced “test batch” triggered a mass overdose event that left at least 25 people hospitalized — five of them clinging to life.
Paramedics and hazmat teams rushed to the Penn–North neighborhood around 9:25 a.m. on July 10 after multiple 911 calls poured in describing people collapsing and seizing in the streets, alleyways, and even on subway platforms.
“This was a level one mass casualty event. Victims were literally dropping all over the area,” said Fire Chief James Wallace. “North Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, the subway — we were responding everywhere at once.”
The drug that caused the overdoses has not been confirmed, but officials suspect a deadly batch of synthetic opioids, possibly fentanyl-laced, is to blame. Witnesses told CBS affiliate WJZ that a tester drug being called “New Jack City” may have triggered the wave of poisonings.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Josie Dantzler, a local nurse practitioner. “People were foaming, twitching, passed out on the sidewalk. If this was a test batch, it’s one hell of a warning.”
The Baltimore City Health Department began immediately distributing Narcan — a powerful opioid reversal medication — in a desperate attempt to save lives as victims were loaded into ambulances. Officials say the final hospitalization numbers may still rise.
Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Jones confirmed the scene is being investigated as a criminal matter. “We are treating this as an active crime scene,” he said. “Whoever distributed this batch could be facing serious charges.”
The Penn North Metro Subway station was shut down and nearby bus routes were rerouted as investigators scoured the area for clues. Police presence remained heavy into the evening.
City officials are calling the incident a grim reminder of Baltimore’s relentless battle with opioid abuse. “Our city is being ravaged by fentanyl and synthetic opioids,” the Baltimore Fire Department said in a blistering Facebook statement. “Our EMS system is stretched to the brink.”
Sara Whaley, head of the Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response, urged residents to use caution: “Don’t use alone. Carry Narcan. And if you see someone who needs help — don’t wait, call 911.”
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates praised the first responders, saying his office is working closely with police to trace the origin of the deadly batch. “This was a coordinated emergency response,” he said. “But we need to find out who’s behind this before it happens again.”
As of Friday morning, the Baltimore Police Department had not released an official update on arrests or toxicology results.
This story is developing.
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It was a test batch and things can go wrong
Just the usual Democrat junkies trying to speed up their foolish demise…