Tense moments after peaceful gathering for Salisbury shooting victim

A peaceful gathering Monday, was held to remember Rakim Russell.

Those in attendance at Doverdale Playground said they wanted to show support for Rakim, or Roc as he was also known. However once the event was over, the atmosphere became much more tense.

Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan says, “After that service had ended a couple of juveniles had gotten into a verbal dispute with each other and we stepped in before anything escalated.”

Although police have not confirmed this, witnesses say a fight broke out because one of the kids may have had information that they were withholding from police. The information was apparently regarding the suspects in the Russell’s killing.

A friend of Rakin, Tre Hargis, says “Simply that somebody knew something and they wasn’t trying to give information. Like they wasn’t trying to help the family out. I don’t know the young man that got into all that today. It would have been nice if he had let the information go instead of holding on.”

Police say Russell was gunned down outside of the America’s Best Value Inn in Salisbury. We’re told by witnesses that fights had broken out Sunday night during a party at the inn. After the party ended, men in a white four door car apparently open fired on a crowd outside of the building. However, police have not confirmed that information. The investigation into his death is ongoing. Authorities say they have credible leads that they are following.

Police are still urging anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.