Shrine for Karon Shannon

This neon-bright shrine to Karon Shannon, is in the 1200 block of Simms Pl NE Washington DC, in the very troubled Trinidad neighborhood.

The grey mist of the rainy day made the somber contrast between the bold glowing colors of the shrine and the tragic event that it marks, unusually poignant to me. A shining melancholy heart poem; misery, prayer, memory, and grief made visible, for all passersby to see.

From the DC police website:
At approximately 7:32 pm on Sunday Oct 19, 2008 officers from the 5th District responded to the 1200 block of Simms Place, NE, to investigate the possible sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead at 8:23 pm.

The decedent has been identified as 17-year-old Karon Shannon of the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE.

A second victim, a 15-year-old juvenile female was also located & transported to an area hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. The identity of that victim is being withheld at this time.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 18-year-old Deangelo Johnson, a District resident from NE, was arrested for the murder of Karon Shannon. He was charged with 2nd Degree Murder in the homicide of Karon Shannon.

http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/mpdc/section/2/release/15241/year/2008