Memorial for Mr. Wong | Columbia Pike, Arlington VA

This street memorial honors Mr. Tommy K. Wong, 52, who was murdered about 4:00 PM Friday July 27, 2012, in his store, Capital Jewelers, 3219 Columbia Pike, in Arlington, Virginia. Video cameras show that he was murdered during a robbery. His death was discovered by his family after he did not come home that evening. Arlington Police are currently searching for the suspect, whose image was captured by the security cameras.

The memorial was erected by family and members of the tight-knit local business community, many of whom are also immigrants operating small enterprises in this highly-diverse neighborhood.


Mr. Wong has been described by friends, family, and other members of the Columbia Pike business community as a kind, dedicated family man, and his loss has been devastating to those who knew him.

May his memory be for a blessing, and peace return to his family and community.

The Washington Post has published interviews and other information about this sad turn of events. It can be viewed here.

This is the first street memorial to a homicide victim that I have found in Arlington. After a more than two year peace, there have been three slayings in Arlington this past month.

"El Tigre" Shrine for Edgar Aguilar, Columbia Pike, Arlington VA

A spontaneous street shrine has been erected to Edgar Aguilar, who was killed in a bus accident at this site on Columbia Pike in Arlington, Virginia, near the intersection with South Four Mile Run.

According to the news blog ArlNow, "a video was taken on the evening of July 1, 2012. Just minutes prior to the start of the video, a man had been struck by a car on Columbia Pike near the intersection with Four Mile Run Drive, which was darkened due to power outages in the area following the June 29 derecho. The video shows the bus pulling up to the scene, which was next to a bus stop. The man’s bloodied body — blurred out by police — is lying on the sidewalk.
With the bus stopped, passengers file past the man’s body. Although someone had called 911 — lights from police cars heading to the scene can be seen in the background — not a single person stops to check on the man, who was either dead or dying. A woman carrying shopping bags walks right by, without hesitation. One man crosses himself after getting on the bus.
Police say they released the video in a “good faith effort” to get witnesses to the accident to step forward. Detectives are not looking to charge anybody in the video with any wrongdoing — they just want them to “come forward and say ‘this is what happened, this is what we saw,’” according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
“The intent is solely to get these witnesses to… assist police in the reconstruction of what happened that night,” Sternbeck said. “The intent is not to say these individuals are accountable for anything.”
Sternbeck noted that the driver of the striking vehicle “has been very cooperative,” but the case is still open. Charges could still be filed if the driver is thought to be at fault."

It is the first street memorial I have documented in either Arlington or Alexandria.

May El Tigre rest in peace.

Memorial for Antione "Ant" Bates Crittendon Street NW, DC

From a DC police report: On Saturday, June 23, 2012, at approximately 1:51 am, Fourth District officers responded to the 500 block of Crittenden Street NW , Washington DC, to investigate a report of a shooting. Once they arrived on the scene, officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.  DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Antione Bates, 23, to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

More at HomicideWatch.

  

RIP Truck Head. Memorial for Davon Brown on Galen Street SE, DC

From a DC police report: On Sunday, July 8, 2012 at approximately 12:04 am members of the Seventh District responded to the 1700 block of Galen Street SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male victim unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined there were no signs of life. The victim, identified as Davon Brown, 22, was later pronounced dead by a member of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. A second victim was located in the 2300 block of Green Street, SE with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported by personnel from DC Fire and EMS to an area hospital.

More at HomicideWatch.

Peace peace peace...

Police tape for Charles Anthony Scott, Ames Street NE DC

From a DC police report:

From a DC police report: On Saturday, July 7, 2012, at approximately 9:50 pm units from the Sixth District responded to the 5300 block of Ames Street NE, Washington DC, for the report of a stabbing.  Upon arrival, they located two adult males suffering from stab wounds.  Both victims were transported to a local hospital where one victim was admitted for treatment.  The other victim identified as Charles Anthony Scott Jr , 20, succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead.


More at HomicideWatch.

Crevontai Key | 5000 block of First Street NW, DC

From a DC police report: On Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at approximately 8:03 pm, members of the Fourth District responded to the 5000 block of First Street NW, Washington, DC, for the report of a shooting.  Upon their arrival, they located one adult male and two juveniles suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.  DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported all three victims to an area hospital where two of the victims were admitted in serious condition and the third victim, identified as Crevontai Key, 19, later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. A fourth victim was transported by a family member to an area hospital, where he was treated and released.

More information at HomicideWatch.

Shrine for Li'l G - George Waymer Jr.

This memorial in the 5700 block of Jost Street in Fairmount Heights, MD, is for George Waymer Jr., 16, of Washington DC, who was shot and killed on Sunday, July 8, 2012.

A moving article in the Washington Post quotes his bereaved father “He was a good kid. He was a lovable kid,” Waymer said. “I guess he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time” and that "his son had no enemies that he knew of, and he did not know why someone would shoot him. He said the boys who were with his son told him that the shooter was in a light-blue car.
“Whoever was in the car just got out and started shooting,” Waymer said. “These kids are just taking each other’s life like it ain’t nothing, man. It’s crazy.”

The box of hair clippers at the memorial are to show the young man's love of cutting hair.

The memorial is just a block over the District line in nearby Fairmount Heights. There were about a dozen pairs of discarded police evidence technicians gloves scattered around the site, which I had never encountered previously.

An online obituary has been posted.


May his family and friends know strength and peace.