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.

Diallobe McDougald - site of his demise: 1800 block Central Place NE

From a DC police report: On Monday, October 28, 2013, at approximately 3:43 pm, units from the Fifth District responded for the report of a stabbing in the 1800 block Central Place NE, Washington DC. Upon arrival, members located an adult male suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and EMS personnel transported the victim, identified as Diallobe McDougald, 38, to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injury and was pronounced dead.  

More information is available on this case is available at Homicide Watch.

This forlorn site is in one of the city's most challenged neighborhoods.
Adjacent to the site was a banner for a Habitat for Humanity project.


A prayer for peace.

James Baxter - crime tape in the alley behind 500 block of 48th Place NE, Washington DC

On Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at approximately 11:46 pm, patrol officers from the Sixth District responded to the 500 block of 48th Place NE, Washington DC, for the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they located unconscious adult male in the alley in the rear of the 500 block of 48th Place, NE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene to initiate life saving measures, but found no signs consistent with life. The remains of the decedent, identified as James Baxter, 46, were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner pending an autopsy and a determination of a cause and manner of death.

All that I was able to find at this lonely site was some police crime tape, and an investigator's blue glove.

May he rest in peace, and his loved ones be consoled.

More information about Mr. Baxter is available on HomicideWatch.