Baltimore police arrested a taxpayer-funded “violence prevention” worker on attempted murder charges Sunday — the latest nonprofit leader promoted as a crime solution to allegedly commit a crime himself.
Antoine Burton, 51, president of the Baltimore charity We Our Us and a worker in the city’s multi-million-dollar Safe Streets program, allegedly shot a 40-year-old man Sunday. Police arrested him without incident shortly after the shooting.
Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott defended the program Monday despite the arrest.
“This individual’s actions are a disgrace. He has failed to live up to our standards for frontline community violence intervention staff and violated the trust that is at the very core of what makes violence intervention work overwhelmingly successful.”
Scott insisted the arrest was “an isolated incident and should not be used to undermine the proven work that Safe Streets does each and every day.”
Burton faces attempted murder and weapons charges. Maryland’s court database does not yet list an attorney for him.
We Our Us received more than $1.2 million in government grants in 2024 alone, according to tax filings reviewed by Daily Caller. The filings also list Burton as a pastor.
Please see my statement on the arrest of Safe Streets worker Antoine Burton. We will continue to hold our Safe Streets teams to the highest standards for conduct, and they will continue their lifesaving work to prevent violence and uplift our communities. pic.twitter.com/uiHK2T76Dz
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) June 8, 2026
Maryland awarded $6 million to We Our Us in August despite Burton owing more than $200,000 in late tax payments, Fox Baltimore reported.
Burton is the latest of several so-called violence prevention workers charged with crimes after liberal, police-skeptical cities promoted their unconventional neighborhood outreach as crucial to public safety.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.
