Blue bear and an elf for Robert Engleman Jr.

This memorial to Robert E. Engleman Jr, is in the alley behind the 4500 block of Hunt Place NE, Washington DC.

Mr. Engleman was found fatally shot at this spot on October 30, 2009.

He had lived in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Shrine at 1332 Half Street SW

I came upon this shrine in the alley behind 1322 Half St SW, Washington DC.
I was looking for a possible shrine to Chicquelo Abeny, who was shot at the end of this alley on October 12. 2009. A neighbor told me his family hadn't erected a memorial yet, but this shrine to a murder victim of a few years ago, was kept up by friends and family.

DC Police records show Jehu Arias, 30, died of multiple gunshot wounds at this spot at 3:37 AM on May 27, 2006.

Lone teddy bear for Mr. George Wakefield

This poignant solo teddy bear is the shrine to George E. Wakefield. It is behind the 1100 block of 21st Street NE, Washington DC. Mr. Wakefield, 30, was found stabbed near his home early Saturday October 17, 2009.

Patrick Wilson, 25, of Alexandria, Virginia, has been arrestd and charged with first-degree murder in the slaying.

Davonta Harris - caught in the crossfire

This shrine of plush toys, in the 5300 block of Clay Terrace NE, Washington DC, was created for young Davonta Artis, just 15 years old.

According to press reports, two people were killed and three others were wounded in what police think was a driveby shooting on Tuesday October 13, 2009.

The shootings took place in the Clay Terrace housing projects, long known for problems with violent crime & drug activity.
Word from DC police is that the driveby resulted from a dispute between two rival crews, one from 37th Place SE and the other based in Clay Terrace, over money and a set of stolen handguns.
Authorities believe members of the 37th Place group arrived at Clay Terrace in a black SUV, then got out and exchanged words with teens from the Clay Terrace crew. "They didn't want the money back; they wanted the guns back" a source said. "That's when the bullets started flying." Another witness related "it was like a baby Iraq."

Police said it appears Davonta was an innocent bystander, not a target. This poor child was described as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His family and neighbors are shocked and saddened, as he had no involvement in the terror and violence that has wracked the community he grew up in, and where he died.

Another unknown on Clay Terrace NE

This older graffiti is now illegible, except for its clear RIP statement.

I found it by this drying laundry, just a few yards from two other memorials.

Tough neighborhood. Very tough neighborhood.

Peace y'all. Peace.

Shoe memorials in Clay Terrace NE- A double hanging

These two adjoining shoe shrines are in the 5300 block of Clay Terrace NE, Washington DC.

They are possibly for Davonta Artis, 15, and Daquan Tibbs, 18, who lived in the 200 block of 37th Place SE.

Both were murdered in this block on October 13th, 2009.

In any case, it's a shame.

Unknown Tee-shirt shrine - Clay Terrace NE & Halloween RIP

DC Police reports cite an unsolved murder at 2:00 AM on July 25th, 2007, at 1519 Benning Road NE, Washington DC, but the victim, Gregory Ausbon, was 23 - older than the young man pictured on this T-shirt.

Unfortunately, there have been so many homicides in the Clay Terrace area, including several others in summer 2007, that I am as yet unable to acertain who this shrine, posted in a doorway, honors and memorializes.

I also found this Halloween decoration nearby. Anywhere else, it would just be light and silly spooky entertainment.
In this neighborhood, it also serves (probably unconsciously, though one should not be certain) as a reminder of the very real and ghastly potential for sudden and violent death to be waiting close by.

Antonio Moten "Sweetus" - RIP 2006

This older shrine to Anthonio Moten "Sweetus" is sequestered at the rear of 5363 Clay Terrace NE, Washington DC.

According to police and news records, Mr. Moten was killed on June 11, 2006 at 7:43 PM. A woman was also shot in this incident, but survived her wounds.

I was led to this shrine on October 30, 2009 by some youth from the Clay Terrace area who told me about it. It has been maintained for three years at the back of this public housing project by those who cared for him.

There have been numerous murders in the Clay Terrace complex over the years.

Memorial for Ashley Davis

This small tender shrine is built in remembrance of Ashley Davis. It is in the 3000 block of Brinkley Road, in Temple Hills Maryland.
Fourteen-year old Ashley was hit by a speeding gold Lincoln Continental sedan on September 1, 2009, while she was walking to the morning schoolbus. The Lincoln injured another boy in the street, and then hit a van with a woman and four children inside. Ashley suffered major brain trauma from the crash. She struggled to hold on to life for about two weeks, but died on September 16th, at Childrens Hospital.

She had been a well-liked freshman at Crossland High School. According to news reports, her mother, Nycole Davis, is very deeply grieved.

May the Creator give us peace, as it is beyond our ability to understand.

Sad eyes for Kenyetta Nicholson-Stanley

A shrine to Kenyetta D Nicholson-Stanley, 17, has been created adjacent to the playground of the Edgewood Terrace Apartments, 525 Edgewood Street NE, Washington DC.

At this spot on October 11, 2009, at about 8:20 PM, Ms. Nicholson-Stanley was caught in a cross-fire of gunshots between a security guard and one or two masked assailants. She had been speaking with the guard before the gunfire began.
Police, and several neighbors I spoke to, were unclear who fired the fatal shot.

There is a reward posted for the arrest of the gunmen.

An older neighbor a spoke to said this had been a quiet neighborhood before these apartments were built in the 1970's.

May this innocent young woman and her family have peace.

Reggie Cook- Barry Farm shrine

This shrine is behind a row of dwellings at 1110 Eaton Road, SE, Washington, DC.

On September 25, 2009, at 10:39 PM, Reggie Cook was found shot and killed at the rear of 1110 Eaton Rd SE.

This is in the Barry Farm community, where there have been quite a number of violent deaths this year.

Mr. Cook's loved ones have left him their offerings of toys - and their prayers.

Shrine for Eddie Blocker- 18th Street SE

Eddie R. Blocker, 18, was found fatally shot on October 2, 2009. The shrine is next to 1512 18th St SE, Washington, DC.
Gunshots were heard near 18th & P Sts SE. Responding police officers found Mr. Blocker shot several times in the 1400 block of 18th St SE. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Young Mr. Blocker had grown up in this neighborhood. I spoke with a dignified older gentleman who was a good friend of Eddie’s mother. He told me that his grandson was a close friend of Eddie’s growing up. I left him thoughtfully viewing the shrine.

RIP Marcos Medina

Marcos Medina, 16, was fatally shot during an argument in the 5300 block of 56th Avenue in Riverdale, Maryland, on September 30, 2009. A 17 year-old was also shot, and after treatment was released from the hospital.

This shrine, in a primamrliy Latino immigrant community, is next to a driveway and a fertile squash garden.

Vaya con Dios.

To Robert Jackson - 35th & B Streets SE

Robert “Bobbie” Jackson was shot September 28, 2009 at 5:35 PM, while in the 100 block of 35th Street SE Washington, DC.
He died of his wounds on October 1, 2009.

His shrine is at the corner of 35th & B SE - 10 feet from one I photographed in March 2008.
( see: http://dcshrines.blogspot.com/2008/03/hard-knock-life-and-death.html )

His vigil was held just the night before these photographs were taken. He was shot a block away.

I spoke with two neighbors who were sad about how this affects families, particularly mothers. One, a miltary veteran, related that in the service, shoes tossed over telephone wires were in celebration of someone getting sent back home to the US, not to mark a sad occasion like a murder.

For Andre Pate: Winnie the Pooh, a green bear, and a framed photograph

This shrine in front of 1606 K Street NE, Washington, DC, is in memory of Andre Pate, 30, who was fatally shot at this location.

According to police, gunfire was detected at 5:45 PM on October 1, 2009. The police report mentions that a fight had occurred, but the circumstances were not clear,
Mr. Pate, who had lived in Suitland, MD, died after he was found and transported to a nearby hospital.

Shahabuddin Rana's memorial in front of his store

I found this small shrine remnant to Shahabuddin Rana, 44, in front of his Pizza Mart at 2300 4th Street NE, Washington DC.

Mr. Rana, a Pakistani immigrant, was killed on August 18, 2009. He died of blunt head trauma, multiple stab wounds, and his body was set partially on fire.
Shanika Robinson, 26, Leon Robinson, 25, and Isaiah Genus, 26, have been charged with first-degree homicide in his death.

Investigators believe Rana had stopped paying Ms. Robinson, who had married his immigrant brother in a cash-for-green-card arrangement, when the brother learned of her many sexual affairs. The three accused are alleged to have set his body on fire after killing him, and then stealing cigarettes, cigars, and about $2000 in cash from the store. Ms. Robinson spent about $1600 of this money on her rent, according to police.

A misery for all, and especially for poor Mr. Rana and his family. Salaam aleikum. Peace be with them.

There was another shrine in September 2007, now gone, less than fifty feet from this one.
It is posted on this blog at:
http://dcshrines.blogspot.com/2008/01/rip-lil-bo-two-more-washington.html
(the bottom three photos on this post).

Memorial for Jose Villatoro

This simple permanent memorial to Jose Villatoro is at the corner of Pomeroy Street and Martin Luther King Avenue SE, Washington, DC, near where he was killed while trimming grass.

From the Washington Post and police sources:
About 11 AM on October 16, 2006, Lankward Harrington was walking to a grocery store in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Avenue SE in Anacostia when he came upon Jose Villatoro, who was cutting grass at an apartment complex.

Prosecutors said Harrington had spent the previous night smoking PCP, and he was angry. He was angry that after an argument, his father had ordered him out of their apartment. He was angry because he suspected that his girlfriend was cheating on him.

As he approached Villatoro, 35, who was using a line trimmer to edge a lawn, Harrington grew angrier when Villatoro did not pause to allow him to pass. Instead, Villatoro kept working and grass hit Harrington's clothes and hair. Harrington stopped, reached into his backpack, pulled out a .357 magnum and shot Villatoro four times in the face and body before walking away.

"I made sure he saw me and looked me in the eye," Harrington, 25, calmly told a shocked audience in DC Superior Court, the first time anyone had heard a motive in the killing. "I take pride in my appearance. I did not appreciate that."
A stunned Assistant US Attorney Steve Snyder sought clarification from Harrington. "He did nothing to you, did he?" Snyder said.
"He got grass on me," Harrington said quietly. "That was something."
Harrington was charged with second-degree murder in Villatoro's killing. After closing arguments Tuesday, it took the jury less than ten minutes to return a guilty verdict.

It was Harrington's second murder trial in the case. Last year, a DC jury found Harrington not guilty of first-degree murder and hung on a charge of second-degree murder. Harrington had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

This year, after follow-up meetings with Harrington in preparation for the trial, two of the three D.C. area psychologists who last year testified that Harrington was insane changed their diagnoses and said that he was not insane at the time of the shooting.

Mr. Villatoro left behind a family of four in the Mount Pleasant area of DC. he had been the sole provider for them.
Villatoro's wife, Carmela, never flinched as Harrington spoke of shooting her husband and the father of their two daughters, ages ten and five. What did surprise her, she said, was that it took three years for a jury to find Harrington guilty. The Villatoros immigrated to the Mount Pleasant area from El Salvador in 1990. Since then, her husband had worked for landscaping companies.

"Knowing what [Harrington] did, I don't understand why it has taken so long," she said. "How could he do something like this only because of grass?"

Harrington is scheduled to be sentenced December 18, 2009.

Mr. Harrington's father said his son had a history of psychiatric problems. Latino organizations in the city have made support and outreach efforts for the Villatoros family.

Purple bear for Robert McFarlin. A strange and sad situation

Shrine to Robert L. McFarlin, 58, in the 1700 block of Trenton Place SE, Washington DC,at the corner of Trenton Place and Stanton Road.
Adapted from the Washington Post:
Officers from the 7th District went to the 1700 block of Trenton Place SE after Robert L. McFarlin Jr. called 911 about 1:15 p.m on September 14, 2009, and reported that he had killed his sister. McFarlin, who lived on that block, was found in the street holding several knives. He did not drop the weapons when warned by officers.

Two of the three officers then fired a total of three rounds, killing McFarlin. Police then found his sister, who was not harmed.

The shooting took place outside the Garden Village Apartments off Alabama Avenue SE. Children in uniforms walking home from school saw the police tape and cruisers, and asked neighbors what had happened.

The three officers were placed on administrative leave, which is standard department policy. The force investigation team will look into the shooting. DC police say it is their policy not to identify officers involved in shootings. There have been thirteen police-involved shootings this year, compared with nine at the same time last year. That includes fatal shootings, people who were wounded, and misses.

Jason Liser's shrine

Shrine erected in the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue NE Washington, DC, across the street from a busy Metro station.
On September 11, 2009, Jason Liser, 32, of Bowie, Maryland, was taken to an area hospital after being shot. He died there from multiple wounds. No motives or suspects are known.

There have been several murders in this block; this is the first time I am aware of that a shrine has been erected in this busy area.

A neighbor, Sondra, told me that '"Jay' was good guy, and that his killing makes no sense." He leaves behind a baby daughter.

Shrine to Michael Harris "They Angels have you now"

This shrine is in the 800 block of Hamilton Street NW, Washington DC. It is on a busy intersection across from a school.
The crime was reported on August 31, 2009 about 6:26 PM. Police responded to a shooting report and found
Michael Harris dead in the alley behind the 900 block of Hamilton Street. Three other men were shot in this incident, but were expected to survive their wounds. The crime scene tape with the flowers is at the site of the killing; the shrine is about a block away in a highly visible setting.

A neighbor I spoke with, an older reformed drug dealer, felt the killings in the area were all about drugs and money, though he also believed that sometimes innocents get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He insisted "I'll tell you straight up man, all this is the work of greed - and of the Devil."

Lord knows.

Spoony's shrine

A weathered shrine to "Spoony," near the corner of 2nd and Gallatin Streets NW, Washington, DC.

I could find nothing on this shrine in police or newspaper online records. A neighbor told me that he and Spoony used to play basketball together, and seemed to imply that Spoony had been shot. Another passerby told me that the shrine was to an accident victim, not a shooting.

100 block Emerson Street NW - unknown person

This tattered shrine to an unknown young man is in the 100 block of Emerson St NW,Washington, DC,just off North Capitol Street. The stick or pole that was holding the plush toysup had either broken by the elements, or removed.

I was directed to this site by one of his friends whom I met at another shrine a few blocks away, but I did not get either of their names. I could find no records in the press or police sites online about this shrine.

Shrine to Cedric Holmes

This shrine to Cedric Nathaniel Holmes, 30, of Bowie, Maryland, is in the 1700 block of Olive Street, in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
Mr. Holmes was found fatally shot near here about six PM on September 15, 2009.

The site is only about fifty yards from the DC line, in a rough-and-tumble industrial area that is being rebuilt.

Joseph Duane Jackson, 31, was arrested on September 24th, and charged with first degree murder in the death of Mr. Holmes.

Abdullah Fuller- in a quiet way

Remnants of crime-scene tape in a quiet well-kept park across from a secluded Franciscan Monastery, near 1300 Perry Street NW, Washington, DC. It is about as tranquil a spot as can be found in DC.
Abdullah Fuller, of Newton Street NE, was found about five AM on September 20, 2009 with at least two gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of Perry Street NE. When police arrived they found the unconscious victim lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was later pronounced dead.

According to the Washington Post "A neighbor called Fuller a “likeable, easygoing husband and father who worked at a grocery store in the District. The killing" he said, “just shocks me.”'

Peace peace peace.

NaNa Boo - shrine to Tyli'a Mack - Q Street NW

In front of 209 Q Street NW, Washington DC, I found this unusual shrine to Joshua Mack.

According to a report in the Washington Blade, police said they found Joshua Mack, who used the name Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack, and another transgender woman suffering from stab wounds about 2:30 pm on August 26, 2009 on the sidewalk in front of 209 Q St NW.

Mack was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Howard University Hospital. The second victim, whom police did not identify, was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive her injuries.

Friends and family members of Tyli'a Mack held a candlelight vigil to commemorate her life on August 28th, at the site of the murder.

Acting Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the DC police's Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, said homicide investigators working on the case listed the incident as a "possible" hate crime.

D.C. Police say the attacker is an unknown man in his early 30s. He was last seen wearing all black and running in the opposite direction on Q Street.

Neighbors say the street is normally a quiet one.

Flowers, a pink piglet toy, and a big red Gumby. And more hearts broken without reason or recourse. Vogue on, wherever you are now Ms. Mack.