Selina Brown- 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue SE

From a DC Police report: On Sunday, December 9, 2012, at approximately 5:40 pm, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District responded to the 1700 Block of Minnesota Avenue SE, Washington DC, to investigate the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, they located an adult female victim in an unconscious and unresponsive state in the doorway of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus (METRO), suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. The victim, identified as Selina Brown, 20, remained on the scene and was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, pending an autopsy. A second victim, a female toddler suffering from a gunshot wound, was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The operator of the bus sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

Javon Steven Foster, who was wanted for Murder II While Armed in the shooting death of Selina Brown, was found dead the next day in Long Island, NY, an apparent suicide.

The child injured in this shooting was Ms. Brown's baby.

 More information on this very sad situation can be found on HomicideWatch.

Eliezer Benjamin Reyes- Lewisdale MD

I found these religious cards at the foot of the pole where police crime tape marked the slaying of Eliezer B. Reyes.

From news sources:  Eliezer Benjamin Reyes, 14, was shot just after midnight, early Wednesday morning December 5, 2012, in the 2200 block of Sheridan Street, in the Lewisdale, Maryland area. Officials say they're looking into the possibility that the shooting was gang related.
 Read more:
WJLA  #1
Moving Washington Post article
 
From John 14:15, on the prayer cards:

 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"

Metro shrine to Olijawon Griffin, in Woodley Park NW

This memorial has been erected in the memory of Olijawon Griffin, 18, of Olney, Maryland. Mr Griffin was stabbed to death inside the Woodley Park Metro station, Washington,DC, at approximately 1:15 am Saturday November 17, 2012. He had apparently been robbed earlier in the evening in the nearby Adams Morgan neighborhood, and was fatally attacked in the Metro station. Another young man was also stabbed, but has survived. Nine suspects have been arrested in the case.

According to a photograph accompanying a Washington Post article, part of the shrine was erected by Eve Smith of Kensington, Maryland.

Much more information is at  HomicideWatch. 

This is a sad ending for a life, and in a usually quiet upscale neighborhood.

"Let not your heart be troubled" | Memorial to Anthony "Buck" Watts

This shrine is to Anthony Antonio Watts, on 36th Street NE, just off the busy Benning Road freeway. It is less than 50 yards from a large shrine that used to exist to "Lil Bo".

 May they both rest in peace.

 Police identified Anthony Antonio Watts, 31, also known as Buck, as the victim of a homicide Thursday afternoon 10/25/12. Police believe a black Toyota Camry with tinted windows and Pennsylvania license plates may be connected to the crime, according to the Washington Post. The vehicle was seen leaving the scene with two people in the car and entering the nearby Anacostia Freeway. From a DC police report: On Thursday, October 25, 2012, at approximately 12:39 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to 36th Street and Benning Road NE, Washington DC, for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male, identified as Anthony Antonio Watts, 31 of Northeast Washington, DC, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life.

 More information at HomicideWatch.

Andre Jackson - police tape on Ridge Road SE

This police tape is near the site of where Andre Jackson recently lost his life.

From HomicideWatch: A man is dead after a shooting early Sunday morning, November 4, 2012,  in the 300 block of Ridge Road Southeast. Police have identified him as Andre Jackson, 22, of Southeast DC... NBC Washington reported that shots were heard around 2:15 am.  The man was found in a parking lot behind an apartment building in the 300 block of Ridge Road SE. Investigators were still on the scene well into the morning. After sunrise, they seemed to be focusing on a wooded area near the parking lo.

From a DC police report: On Sunday, November 4, 2012, at approximately 2:14 am, units from the Sixth District responded to the 300 block of Ridge Road SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting.  Upon arrival they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds.  DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. The victim, identified as Andre Jackson, 22,  of SE DC, remained on the scene and was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, pending an autopsy.

Gregory Troxler's shrine "We Miss U So Damn Much"

This striking, moving memorial is an alley behind the 1800 block of 8th Street NE Washington DC. It was created by friends of Gregory Darnell Troxler, who was killed on this spot, just a few steps away from his home.

I met one of his friends at the site, and we spoke about the sad impact of violence.

 From a Washington Post blog: The man who was fatally shot in Northeast DC on Wednesday has been identified as Gregory Darnell Troxler, 21. Troxler was found lying dead in an alley off the 1100 block of 8th Street NE, Washington DC, around 4 pm October 10,2012. Police said an officer heard the gunshots about 3:50 pm. and arrived within seconds. But Troxler was already dead and the gunman was gone. The slaying was across the street from an entrance to Gallaudet University. Police Chief Lanier said that neither the shooting nor the victim was connected to Gallaudet. It occurred on the south side of Florida Avenue NE; the university is across the street. Police have not said how many times Troxler was shot and have not released any information about a suspect or motive. 

More info, at the always helpful HomicideWatch.

Candles for Brittany McKinley, Capitol Heights, MD

These candles are the remnants of a vigil held in honor and memory of Brittany McKinley, who recently was slain near her home on September 16, 2012.

From a Washington Post blog: Friends and family members of the 25-year-old Capitol Heights woman shot and killed near her home on Heath Street will gather at the scene of the slaying Thursday night for a candlelight vigil to honor the person they remember as a loving mother and hard worker, family said. The vigil for Brittany Sade McKinley will be in the same area where the young woman was gunned down early Sunday morning. Pamela Epps, 44, McKinley’s mother, said the vigil is meant to humanize her daughter — a loving mother of a 6-year-old boy — and present her as something more than a nightclub worker. “She did like any girl. She was out there working, trying to provide for her and her son,” Epps said. “This child sits in here and sleeps with her shirt. It’s disturbing.” McKinley’s slaying occurred about 6 a.m. Sunday in the 4600 block of Heath Street. Police have said she and a 23-year-old woman were shot by Michael Jerome Stewart, 33, of Upper Marlboro, believed to be McKinley’s ex-boyfriend. Stewart was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the incident. Police have said Stewart got into a confrontation with McKinley at Irving's Night Club before the shooting, and after security personnel threw him out of the club, he went to McKinley's home and waited for her. As she and the 23-year-old pulled up, Stewart opened their car door and opened fire. The 23-year-old was hit by gunfire but her wounds were not life threatening. Epps said McKinley worked at the club as a “professional dancer,” though she disputed that Stewart and her daughter had ever been romantically involved. She said Stewart had romantic feelings for her daughter that were not reciprocated. Epps said that her daughter was a loving mother who dreamed of one day becoming a veterinarian. In her free time, McKinley enjoyed taking her son to the park, the pool or the movies.


May she rest in peace, and her child get every comfort and strength needed.

For Dlonte Days - Palmer Park RIP

From the PG County police blog: On October 11th, 2012, at approximately 11:30 pm, police officers responded to the 1800 block of Village Green Drive, Palmer Park, Maryland, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered Dlonte Renard Days, 23, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside his residence.  He was taken to a local hospital where he died several hours later. Detectives are working to identify the suspect(s) and establish a motive in this case.

Candles, memories, a prayer for peace.

Lamar M. Fonville's memorial on Georgia Avenue NW

From the Washington Post: A man who had been fatally shot was found Sunday, Sunday September 30, 2012 in the 7400 block of Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC.  DC police officers said Lamar Michael Fonville, 29, was found with a gunshot wound in the head about 3:20 am.  

There is a moving letter left at the memorial, which is in front of a modest garden apartment. It reads in part: ."..Lamar I am proud of you and miss you terribly I saw you every day and there is an empty vacuum without you all that you wanted was a piece of the American dream and this is where you ended up...

May Mr. Fonville's friends and family know peace, and may justice be served.

Memorials for Marckel Ross, Central Avenue, Capitol Heights

From WJLA-TV: An 18-year-old Central High School student with aspirations of working in the fashion industry was shot and killed Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Capitol Heights,Maryland, Prince George's County Police say. The victim, identified as Central High School junior Marckel Norman Ross, 16, was found suffering from a gunshot wound at about 6:50 am September 11, 2012, in the 6100 block of Central Avenue. Marckel was found in his school uniform with his bookbag with him. Investigators are continuing to look for a suspect and establish a motive. He was apparently an well-liked and positive young man. A large vigil was held at the site of his slaying in his honor and memory by his family and many friends.