The heavens cry. Memorial to Rodney Ellis Gardner, 21st Place SE, Washington DC.

From a DC police report: On Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at approximately 10:20 pm, officers from the Seventh District responded to the 1600 block of 21st Place SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Rodney Ellis Gardner, 33, to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.  

The residents of the 1600 block of 21st Place SE held a candle-light vigil for Rodney Gardner in front of 1621 21st Place SE, on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00pm. This shrine was built at the vigil, in his memory and honor.

It was raining gently as I documented this memorial.

More on this case is tracked at HomicideWatch.


 

Shrine for Lawrence David Phillips, 400 block of 18th Street NW, DC

From a DC police report: On Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at approximately 9:42 pm, officers from the Fifth District responded to the 400 block of 18th Street NE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, a crime scene was located and further investigation revealed that the victim was transported by citizens to an area hospital. The victim, identified as Lawrence David Phillips, 45, was admitted in critical condition suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, and later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.    

More information on this case is at HomicideWatch.

A close friend of the deceased at Mr. Phillips' shrine site spoke with me for a while. One thing he said stuck with me; "everybody's a little rough, because life is rough."

Truth.

And may peace smooth the rough places...

Street memorial: Candles, a bear, and a festive libation glass for Dontel Price. S Street NE, DC

From a DC Police report: On Saturday, May 18, 2013 at approximately 3:20 am, units from the Fifth District responded to the sound of gunshots report in the Unit block of S Street NE, Washington DC. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and EMS transported the victim identified as Dontel Price, 21, to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.    

More and ongoing information about Mr. Price's case can be viewed on HomicideWatch.

This small and touching memorial is just a half block off of North Capitol Street.



I was told by a helpful citizen that a new and much larger shrine had been built in Mr. Price's honor. I documented this bottle and T-shirt memorial in the 1700 block of Lincoln Road NE, Washington, DC.

It is about one half block from the site of the original memorial.

Street shrine for Alvin Allen Jr. | 3500 block of Stanton Road SE DC

From a DC police report: On Sunday, May 5, 2013, at approximately 2:50 am, officers from the Seventh District responded to the 3400 block of Stanton Road SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located two adult males and one juvenile male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported them to local hospitals where the first victim, identified as Alvin Allen Jr., 21, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, and the second and third victims were treated for their injuries.    

This memorial is in the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE.

There is more and ongoing information about Mr. Allen at HomicideWatch.

Interestingly, there was quite a police presence on this block when I documented this memorial. It consisted of Police Community Resource vans rather than squad cars.

RIP and healing for the family and community.

Sites of three recent shooting deaths in DC

Police crime tape marks the sites where Frederick Booker, Thomas Terrell Jamison, and Nathaniel McRae recently lost their lives to violence. Click on their names to view more detailed information about their cases.

Frederick Brooker, 4100 block of 20th Street NE, Washington DC

Thomas Terrell Jamison, 1200 block of Raum Street NE, Washington DC

Nathaniel McRae, 800 block of Barnaby Street SE, Washington DC

Additional information on all three of these men is available at HomicideWatch, the DC Police website, and the Washington Post.