He’s told the public about hundreds of homicides – this time, it was his brother

As the public information officer for the Baltimore Police Department, T.J. Smith has talked about many homicide victims – especially in the past two years as the city’s murder rate has soared.

On Wednesday, he found himself talking about his younger brother, who was shot to death Sunday in what has been classified as Baltimore’s 173rd homicide of 2017.

Dionay Smith, 24, was gunned down in his own apartment, police say.

“When I saw his name come across, I just knew,” T.J. Smith, in tears, told reporters on Wednesday, according to CNN.

“Like any family member, you’re in denial. I remember when I called, I was hoping he’d answer, because ... I was going to wherever he was to hug him. And I didn’t get a chance to do that.”

Police have released surveillance video showing two men entering Dionay Smith’s home. They hope it brings them information leading to the killer.

The city’s homicide rate has spiked since the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. Gray suffered a fatal spine injury while being transported in a police van.

His death became a symbol of the black community’s mistrust of police and triggered days of protest and riots, CNN writes. Homicides topped 300 each of the past two years in Baltimore and are on pace to easily reach that figure again this year.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 7:52 PM with the headline "He’s told the public about hundreds of homicides – this time, it was his brother."