Shrine for Face (James Hawkins Jr.)

From DC police reports: On Monday, August 30, 2010, at approximately 9:50 PM, members of the Seventh District responded to the report of a shooting in the 4300 block of Wheeler Road SE, Washington DC, where they located two gunshot victims.
The first victim, identified as James Hawkins Jr., 30, of Temple Hills, MD, suffering from a gunshot wound to the body. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The second person struck by gunfire during this shooting was transported to an area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Mr. Hawkins seems to have been cared for by quite a large number of people. May they, and he, know peace.

Shemese Grant's shrine- Good Hope Road

From DC police reports: On Tuesday, August 31, 2010, officers of the Sixth District responded to the 1700 block of Good Hope Road SE, Washington, DC, for the report of a stabbing. Upon arriving, they located year-old Shemese Grant, 31, of the 1300 block of 28th Street SE, suffering from stab wounds. DC EMS personnel transported the victim to an area hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
On Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at 10:00 am, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, and members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 30 year-old Ramona Gray, of District Heights, Maryland, and charged her with First Degree Premeditated Murder While Armed for the stabbing of Ms. Grant.

A neighbor told me that Ms. Grant was pregnant, and that Ms. Gray came at her with a machete, and that Ms. Grant bled to death on the parking lot where the shrine is located. Apparently they had been romantically involved with the same man.

The day I documented this memorial, Ms. Grant's car was still parked in the mini-mart lot where she died.

Sean West's last spot on earth

From DC police reports: On Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 12:15 AM, members of the Seventh District responded to the 4400 block of Wheeler Road SE, Washington, DC, for the report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival, the victim, identified as Sean West, 37, of Oxon Hill, MD, had already been transported to the United Medical Center where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Peace. Now.

Shrine for Anthony Barnes

From press and police reports: On Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at approximately 12:51 AM, units from the Sixth District were dispatched to the 2500 block of Fairlawn Avenue SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located Anthony Barnes, 16, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds in the 2100 block of Fairlawn Avenue SE. DC EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The decedent is identified as Anthony Barnes, 16, of the 900 block of Nova Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD
Police say they have no suspects in the murder He was shot to death as he left a gas station mini-mart.
Family members say Anthony Barnes was trying to get away from a man who had grabbed him when he was struck by a single bullet.
Barnes was spending the night with his brother in a neighborhood near the Sousa Bridge when they decided to go out for a late night snack.
But as they entered the Sunoco Station on Pennsylvania Avenue, someone assaulted Barnes. The reason is still unclear. No arrests have been made.
On the porch of his mother’s Capitol Heights, Md. home, family members remembered a teen who loved basketball, football, music and girls. He was a good-natured kid about to enter his sophomore year at Central High School.
"He wasn't a bad kid,” said Gloria Bing, Barnes’ aunt. “[He wasn't] into drugs, guns or anything. We didn't allow that. He's into church and to hear he got shot? I can't believe it, it's heartbreaking.”
The family's account of what happened comes from witnesses who were with the teen when he was shot.
"They both wanted a snack", said Mancia Broadie, Barnes’ cousin. "They walked around to the store and a young man was tying his shoe. When the young man got up, he grabbed him, he grabbed Tony, and Tony got away from him and they started running and they started shooting at him.”

This shrine was erected in his memory in the 2100 block of Fairlawn Avenue SE.

As the brother of another shooting victim once said to me "nobody deserves this."

may all be comforted, and justice be done.

Two stabbings, Forestville MD

From press reports: Two stabbings on Sunday August 22, 2010 left two men dead in Forestville, MD.
Police responded to a call at 3:38 AM about a man in the 7700 block of Marlboro Pike who had apparently been stabbed. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
A minute after the first call, officers responded to the 2800 block of Parkland Drive, where a male victim was found with stab wounds. He was also taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
A Prince George's County police spokesman said authorities will investigate whether the stabbings were related.
The names of the victims had not been released.

This police tape is at the 2800 block of Parkland Drive site.

Shrine to Ms. Brooks and the Sikyala family

From news reports: Two people were charged with murder in the slayings of two children, their mother and their aunt — all of whom were found in a trash-filled apartment above a detached garage at a suburban Maryland home, police said.
Prince George's County police identified the victims as Shayla Shante Sikyala, 3; Shakur Sylvester Sikyala, 4; their mother, Dawn Yvette Brooks, 38; and their aunt, Mwasiti Sikyala, 41. Police said the victims were shot to death on August 6, 2010 in the 6800 block of 3rd St in East Riverdale MD.

Police have charged Darrell Lynn Bellard, 43, and Tkeisha Nicole Gilmer, 18, with murder and placed them in the custody of county corrections officials. Both are from Texas.
Bellard and Gilmer apparently were connected to Brooks and Mwasiti Sikyala through the sale of marijuana, according to police. A court appearance has not been set for Bellard and Gilmer, and neither had an attorney..
Police had said previously that some of the victims were natives of the Congo.

Apparently the house was also crammed with rubbish, and has now been condemned as unfit for human habitation.

All I could find on the site was police tape, the County health warning, and these two small toys on the door threshold; perhaps one for each child who was slain.

Innocents.

Sunflowers (and more) for Michael Godleski

On Sunday, August 22, 2010 shortly after 12:30 AM, police responded to the Unit Block of Sherman Circle NW, Washington, DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC EMS transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The decedent was identified as Neil Michael Godleski, 31, of the 500 block of Ingraham Street, NW.
An avid athlete, Godleski was biking back from his work on the waterfront. He was a biology student at Catholic University.
Robbery is suspected as a motive.
I spoke to a neighbor who said the neighborhood was usually quiet, and that a candlelight vigil had been held for Mr. Godleski.

According to press reports, his friends are reeling from his violent death.

Sunflowers.

Update: I found this shrine expanded when I came upon it again on October 7, 2010.