RIP Anthony Robinson | 17th Street SE DC

From a DC police report: On Monday, December 2, 2013, at approximately 10:50 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the sound of gunshots in the 1900 block of 17th Street SE, Washington DC. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim, identified as Anthony Robinson, 26, to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

This was an emotional and meaningful shrine for me, as the deceased Mr. Robinson turned out to be a relative of Dion Johnson, the young man I used to mentor in photography, and with whom I am still close. On the site, I ran into Dion's cousins Ronnette, and his other cousin Morgan Paul, who live in the block, and who built the shrine during the course of a heavily-attended vigil they organized in his honor. Anthony Robinson was Ronnette's nephew, and she heard the seven gunshots that took his life.

There is more information on this case at HomicideWatch.

I also want to thank Aldo Bello and Chris O'Leary, who were filming with me on this occasion.

Darius Jamal Murphy's memorial, Ivy City/Trinidad neighborhood NE, DC

From a DC police report: On Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at approximately 9:05 pm, members of the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division (NSID), Gun Recovery Unit (GRU) attempted to stop an individual, when the suspect produced a handgun and fired at the officers – striking one of them. The officers returned fire striking the suspect.  Personnel from DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene. The officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect, identified as Darius Jamal Murphy, 19, was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.  

More information on this case is on HomicideWatch.

Demetrius Eccles- crime tape and more, Sheridan Street NW DC

From a DC police report:  On Saturday, December 7, 2013, at approximately 8:58 pm, officers from the Fourth District responded to the 900 block of Sheridan Street NW, Washington DC, for the report for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, they located an adult male, identified as Demetrius Eccles, 31, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.  DC Fire and EMS did not find any signs consistent with life.  The decedent remained on the scene and was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. http://homicidewatch.org/victims/demetrius-eccles/  

I spoke with some neighbors, who pointed out where Mr. Eccles fell, and to his blood, which remained on the driveway.

We hoped for a more peaceful new year for the neighborhood.

There is more information at HomicideWatch.

RIP Wall to several people | 14th Street NE, Washington DC.

I encountered this bracing wall of several RIP notices in the 2500 Block of 14th Street, NE, Washington DC.

Named on the wall are Kevin, Lee, Ronnell, Sheel, Pat, and Erine.

May you all indeed rest in peace.

Street shrine to an unknown victim | Good Hope Road and 14th Street SE DC

I encountered this unusual shrine at the busy corner of Good Hope Road and 14th Street SE, Washington DC. I am unsure who it honors.

According to a HomicideWatch report, Dwayne Anthony Bryant was killed a block from this site on Friday, March 8, 2013.  At approximately 10:02 pm on this date, units from the Seventh District responded to the 1900 block of 13th 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 Dwayne Antonio Bryant, 22, to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.  
 

Pink elephant | Memorial for Donald Isiah Jones, 14th Street NE DC

From a DC Police report: On Saturday, November 23, 2013, at approximately 6:29 pm, officers from the Fifth District responded to the 2500 Block of 14th Street NE, Washington DC, for the report of sounds of gunshots. A subsequent report was received for a shooting victim in the 2500 Block of 14th Street, Northeast. Upon their arrival, they located two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported the first victim, identified as Donald Isiah Jones, 32, to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The second shooting victim was also transported to a local hospital where he was admitted in stable condition.  

Someone misses Mr. Jones. I was very touched also by this small pink elephant left in his memory.

There is more information on the case at HomicideWatch.

This neighborhood has seen more than its share of violence in the past few years.  A prayer for peace, justice, healing, and wisdom for all who live there.

Two memorial wreaths for Joseph Fowlkes | 400 block of Shepherd Street NW DC

From a DC police report: On Friday, November 1, 2013, at approximately 2:19 am, units from the Fourth District responded to the 400 Block of Shepherd Street NW, 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 Joseph David Fowlkes, 27, to a local hospital where he was pronounced.

I found these unusual twin wreaths, densely covered with caring written sentiments from his family and loved ones, on either side of an alley adjacent to the street where Mr. Fowlkes met his sad fate.

For more information on the situation, please visit the always helpful and thorough site, HomicideWatch.

Site of Stefanie Anne Littlejohn's passing; 2400 block of Kent Village Place, Landover MD

From a Prince Georges County police report: On November 19, 2013, at about 2:45 am, patrol officers were called to the 2400 block of Kent Village Place, Landover Maryland, for a possible stabbing. When they arrived, patrol officers found an adult female outside suffering from trauma to her body. She was pronounced dead on the scene. The victim is identified as Stefanie Anne Littlejohn, 30, of Suitland, Maryland.

I found this mass of police crime scene tape bundled up near the site of Ms. Littlejohn's passing.

Sad. Peace to all concerned.

Teddy bears for Shamika Latrice Smith, East Capitol Street and Benning Road, NE

From WJLA: A woman was killed and four others were injured after a driver struck multiple cars in the area of Benning Road and East Capitol Street NE Friday evening Novemer 8, 2013, around 6:10 p.m., according to police. Johnson was driving a van when he came upon cars stopped at a light. He then swerved into oncoming traffic and struck Shamika Latrice Smith, 24, in the crosswalk at East Capitol Street.

Witnesses say she was dragged at least 150 feet, and it’s fair to assume that Smith had no idea what was coming at her because police said the van’s headlights were off and it was already dark out.

In court on Monday, prosecutors said that she had the right of way and that surveillance video shows Johnson failing to slow down or to brake in order to avoid striking Ms. Smith. She suffered massive blunt force impact trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday morning, two teddy bears mark the place where Smith died, the tragedy a result of what prosecutors argue was a drugged man behind the wheel. Court papers revealed that Johnson admitted to staff at Prince George’s Hospital that he had ingested the intoxicant PCP prior to the incident.

After the accident, Johnson was arrested and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

More and ongoing information about this case can be found on HomicideWatch.

Innocence and loss. May Ms. Smith's loved ones find comfort & peace.

Memorial for Tyree Beysean Miller on Bass Place SE

From a DC police report posted on HomicideWatch: On November 8, 2013, at approximately 3:23 am, police officers from the Sixth Patrol District responded to the 5000 Block of Bass Place 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 Tyree Beysean Miller, 27, to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

From a news report on NBC Washington: A semi-automatic weapon police found beside the victim may have been used in an exchange of gunfire with one or more shooters. More than two dozen shots were fired, damaging about a half dozen cars in the area. WUSA reports that classes at the school will not be interrupted by the shooting.

While documenting this site, I spoke to a couple of people in the neighborhood, and heard a couple of other sad tales of homicides nearby, and how they had affected their lives.

Peace.

A lone rose for Dr. Ronald Kirby, in the 200 block of Elm Street, Alexandria VA

From a police report: Alexandria Police are investigating a suspicious death that occurred in the 200 block of Elm Street, Alexandria, Virginia, on Monday, November 11, 2013. At approximately 12:30 pm a relative found the victim, a 69 year-old man, unconscious. The victim was pronounced on the scene by medics.

The victim has been identified as Ronald Kirby, 69. An autopsy performed Tuesday has determined the manner of death to be a homicide and the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.

This is the fifth homicide for Alexandria in 2013. There were no homicides in 2012. The investigation is ongoing.

Doctor Kirby was a well-known and influential transportation planner, the director of transportation at the  the Metropolitan Council of Governments, and has been grieved by many local officials.

Someone had placed a lone rose at the edge of the property, below the police crime tape.

There is more information on this case in the Washington Post and at WTOP.

Peace to his family, children, and the community he served.