Car & bottle shrine for Alphonzo "Fee" Epps / Ainger Place SE

This large and unusual shrine to Mr. Epps was constructed on a Cadillac in the courtyard where he lost his life.

From a DC Police report:
On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at approximately 10:00 pm, units from the Seventh District responded to the 2300 block of Ainger Place SE, Washington DC, to investigate a disorderly call. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male victim, Alphonzo Epps, 20, who was unconscious, unresponsive, and suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local area hospital. At 10:45 pm the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

I spoke at length with a resident who recognized me from visits to prior shrines in this same courtyard. She said this killing was totally senseless, and involved a dispute over romantic loyalties. In her view, it should have been settled with words rather than violence. Mr Epps, whose nickname was "Fee" leaves behind a child. This shrine was built on his car, and is being maintained by his friends and grieving family, and candles are lit upon it at night.

May there be peace to his soul, and support and strength to his child.

HomicideWatch has additional information

Shrine for Glenn Bailey / 7th & Edgewood NE

This large shrine is at the entrance of a parking lot to a large apartment complex.

From HomicideWatch:

Glenn M. Bailey, 46, was fatally stabbed May 17, 2011, in the area of 7th and Edgewood Streets NE, Washington DC. Police responding to a call arrived in the area at 3:40 p.m. and found Bailey breathing, but unconscious, unresponsive and bleeding profusely, according the Washington Post . He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Washington Post said police are searching for two men and a woman who were involved in an argument at an apartment complex on Edgewood Street. In a northeast DC parking lot on Tuesday, prosecutors believe Glenn Bailey, in the heat of an argument, told a woman to "get her boyfriend." She said she could "do it herself," and the two exchanged blows. Bailey was killed when a man pushed the woman aside, and stabbed Bailey at least four times, breaking one of his ribs and puncturing his lung. Bailey died less than a half hour later. Two witnesses identified Damien Pannell, 30, as responsible for the stabbing, Mr. Pannell has been arrested and charged with the slaying.

Justice... and peace, peace, peace...

RIP tags for Moeconi Crutchfield

These memorial tags to Mr. Crutchfield, and perhaps others from previous incidents, were created in an alley behind the busy intersection of Minnesota and Pennsylvania Avenues SE, Washington DC, in the back of a pizza shop.

From a DC police report:
On Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at approximately 9:45 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the rear of the 2400 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, Washington, DC. Upon their arrival they found an adult male victim, Moeconi Crutchfield, 30, suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.


More specific information is available at HomicideWatch.

Shrine for James Speakes Jr. / Oxon Hill MD

This memorial, just a block from the DC city line, is in the parking lot of a small liquor store. It is in remembrance of the life of James Speakes Jr.

From a police report:
On May 11, 2011 at approximately 7:04 pm., Prince Georges County patrol officers responded to the 4400 block of Wheeler Road, Oxon Hill MD, for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found James William Speaks, Jr., 28, in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Peace now...

More information on the situation:

Flowers/double homicide- Okasha Hawkins and Joshua Carrol

This small flower shrine is in the 600 block of Modoc Lane, in Forest Heights, Maryland, just a few blocks beyond the DC line.
It is at the site of the slayings of Okasha M. Hawkins, 22, and Joshua Carrol, 23.
From a police report:
Prince George's County Police officers were called to the 600 block of Modoc Lane in Forest Heights to investigate a report of the sound of gun shots around 1:50 am on May 17, 2011. Patrol officers responding to the scene found a male victim suffering from body trauma, who was pronounced dead at the scene. During their investigation, police said the body of a second male victim was discovered. Both bodies were found outside of the residence at that location but there were not in the same location. No information has been released on possible suspects or motive in the homicide.

For more information on this sad situation, see the blog Gory PG.