Memorial to Rose | 1200 block of Stevens Road

This memorial to Rose, a teenager who died in a car crash on Southern Avenue on August 11, 2011, is in an alley across from her home. I spoke with neighbors & her best friend, who told me that she left behind a child. The memorial, which has been kept up, is in the 1200 block of Stevens Rd SE, Washington DC, in the Barry Farms neighborhood.

Friends and family also maintain another memorial to her and her friend on Southern Avenue, at the site of their passing.

Barry Farms markers - 1200 block Stevens Road

I was investigating a possible shrine for Michael Oshea Smith, who was killed in the 1200 block of Stevens Road SE, Washington DC, on May 12, 2012. No shrine to him had been created , but I found this remnant of police tape, and a graffiti tag for "Noodie."

A neighbor told me that the police tape was from several months ago, not from this recent incident. There have been a couple of different memorials within a few feet of this graffiti also. Numerous individuals have lost their lives in this section of the Barry Farms complex over the years, so I just recorded the sites. I pray that the residents are able to have more peace in their lives.

Shrine to unknown victim | 1300 block Southern Avenue

This memorial is near the entrance to United Medical Center Hospital, on Southern Avenue in Washington DC. There was no slaying nearby recently, but there have been a number in the area over the years, or it may be to honor a person who died in the hopital. The memorial appears to be of fairly recent origin.

Teddy bear, bright colors, and a condom...


May kindness and mercy prevail.

Memorial for Dominique Campbell | Police shooting

From a DC Police report:  Preliminary investigation reveals that at approximately 10:42 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012, an officer from the Seventh District responded to a call for a man with a gun in the 4200 block of 6th Street SE, Washington DC. Upon arrival, the officer approached a man matching the description of a suspect that had been broadcast. When the officer approached the suspect, the suspect pulled a weapon and fired on the officer. There was an exchange of gunfire and the suspect, identified as Dominique Campbell, 41, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The injured officer was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.    

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Force Investigation Team of the Internal Affairs Division is conducting the investigation.

There is considerably more information about this case at HomicideWatch and the Washington Post.

Shrine for Sandy Tremaine Greene III, Savannah Street SE

From a DC Police report:  On Monday, April 30, 2012, at approximately 11:42 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Sandy Tremaine Greene III, 27, to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.   

More information is at HomicideWatch.  

Peace to him and his loved ones.

Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go Go | 7th & T Streets NW

There was a spontaneous public street celebration of the life of DC music legend, Chuck Brown, on the corner of Chuck Brown Way, near the newly-reopened Howard Theater. May the Godfather of Go Go keep the funky grooves going on in heaven, as he did on Earth. Now that's some party.

RIP. You were the voice of the street; you kept it real, and you kept it positive... DC loves you Chuck.

Wind me up...

RIP Hot Rod 1600 block Kenilworth Avenue NE

I was looking for a possible memorial to Lamont Antonio Devore, who was killed in this block on May 1st, 2012.

I encountered instead this memorial to Hot Rod, long set in the cement.

Draynell Paul Henderson's memorial | 13th & I NE

This shrine to Draynell Paul Henderson has been erected at the corner of 13th and I Streets NE, Washington DC.

From HomicideWatch: MPD Fifth district commander Andy Solberg wrote in a listserve message: “At about 8:15 this evening [April 11, 2012], a man was shot inside an apartment building in the 600 block of 24th St., NE. The man was taken to an area hospital and has died of his wounds. Detectives and patrol officers are at the scene and are investigating this event.” The victim of the shooting has been identified as Draynell Paul Henderson, 30.

Keyon Caldwell, 33, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed.

I was alerted to the presence of this memorial by Laura Amico of HomicideWatch, for which I thank her.  It some distance from the site of his passing.



"... and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Sirocco Delonte Johnson | RIP ( shrine on Trenton Place SE)

From a DC police report: On Friday, April 13, 2012, at approximately 11:45 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the 1200 block of Trenton Place SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting.  Upon arrival, they located an adult male, identified as Sirrocco Delonte Johnson, 31, suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

I spoke with some of his friends and neighbors, on what has generally been a quiet block. One friend sadly said "we all loved him."

After I made the photographs, several young men arrived, bringing more chairs and a folding table. They dealt out cards and began socializing, while go-go music thumped out the beat from speakers in a van parked nearby.

More information is at HomicideWatch. 

Two shrines for James Sherrod | Kenilworth Terrace NE

From a DC police report: On Saturday, April 28, 2012 at approximately 1:40 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace NE, Washington DC,  for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as James Ray Sherrod, 22, to a local hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead. 

On Monday, April 30, 2012, at approximately 2:45 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Dietrich Baker, 23, charging him with Murder Two while Armed in the fatal shooting.

There are two shrines erected in his memory about half a block apart.

I spoke with both neighbors and the sister of Mr. Sherrod. The situation is very sad, and I wish them peace.

More information is at HomicideWatch