Bilal Abdullah (Baltimore arabber)

Bilal "BJ" Abdullah (died June 17, 2025) was an arabber in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] Abdullah was fatally shot by Baltimore Police in an incident that sparked outrage across the city.[2]

Early life and arabbing career

Abdullah was born into the arabber tradition, inheriting it from his father, Bilal Abdullah Sr., who owned several horses.[3] She was known throughout the city as “BJ” (short for Bilal Junior).[4]

Abdullah was profiled by Eater in 2014 as “the last of the arabbers”[5] and later by Mic in 2018, where he discussed his commitment to walking his routes and mentoring youth.[6]

Though health problems forced him to stop full-time arabbing a few years before his death, Abdullah remained active in the community and was working with the nonprofit Stable Baltimore on returning to the trade.[2][3]

Death

On June 17, 2025, Abdullah was fatally shot by Baltimore Police officers near Pennsylvania Avenue and Laurens Street in the Upton neighborhood.[1][4] According to the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID), officers in an unmarked cruiser approached Abdullah, believing he was armed. He fled, and during a pursuit, allegedly discharged a firearm, injuring an officer in the foot.[2][3]

Police say three officers opened fire after Abdullah pointed a gun at them. He was struck multiple times and later died at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.[4][3] A firearm was recovered at the scene, but eyewitnesses have contested portions of the police account.[2]

Community response

The shooting sparked anger in the community.[2] Community members confronted officers at the scene, and calls for transparency were echoed by city leaders.[2] Baltimore Councilman James Torrence and the NAACP both issued public condolences, and the Baltimore Police Accountability Board scheduled an emergency meeting to review the incident.[2]

Legacy

Abdullah’s death reignited public discourse around police accountability, community relationships, and cultural preservation in Baltimore.[1][3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Woods, Baynard (2025-06-18). "Well-known Baltimore arabber shot and killed by Baltimore Police officers". Baltimore Beat.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bowie, Liz; Prudente, Tim (2025-06-19). "Upton shooting: Grief pours in after arabber Bilal Abdullah shot and killed by police". The Baltimore Banner.
  3. ^ a b c d e Reece, Janay (2025-06-19). "Baltimore community mourns popular and longtime arabber fatally shot by police". CBS Baltimore.
  4. ^ a b c d Collins, David (2025-06-19). "Arabber community mourning one of their own shot by police". WBAL-TV.
  5. ^ "Baltimore's Arabbers: Fruit Vendors Keep a 19th-Century Tradition Alive". Eater. 2014-10-08.
  6. ^ "The Black Baltimore Arabber Tradition is on Its Last Leg". Mic. 2018.
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