Shrine for Rayshand Cotton, 1100 block of Brooke Road, Capitol Heights MD

This shrine to Mr. Cotton's memory was erected in a small community park in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

May there be justice for all. And peace.

From a Prince Georges County Police report: Homicide Unit detectives arrested and charged two teenagers in connection with the homicide in Capitol Heights. One of the suspects is being charged as an adult. He’s Demiko Aiken, 17, of Capitol Heights. He’s charged with first and second degree murder. The second suspect, a 16-year-old, is charged as a juvenile with accessory-after-the-fact. On December 19th, 2016, at about 9:50 am, a citizen flagged down a patrol officer after seeing the victim, Rayshand Cotton, on the ground in the 1100 block of Brooke Road, Capitol Heights, Maryland. The victim was suffering from severe burns and was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined Cotton died from a gunshot wound. Through the course of the investigation, Aiken was developed as a suspect. He and the second suspect were arrested. They were driving the victim’s stolen SUV in the area of Rollins Lane in Capitol Heights. Detectives believe the motive for the murder was the robbery of the SUV. Aiken and the victim were acquaintances. The 16-year-old has admitted to helping Aiken dispose of the body after the murder. Aiken is in the custody of the Department of Correction on a no-bond status.

Terrence Thomas, Jr. / Police shooting incident. 4100 block of Byers Street, Capitol Heights MD

From a Prince Georges County Police report: The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating a police-involved shooting in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The Special Investigative Response Team (SIRT) is leading the investigation.

The preliminary investigation revealed on December 22, 2016, at about 8:30am, our patrol officers responded to the 4100 block of Byers Street for a 911 call about a suspicious car with the engine running. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a car matching the description, with two individuals sleeping inside. The officers approached the car and attempted to wake the individuals. The passenger, who was later identified as 39-year-old Alvin Young Jr., of Washington, DC, opened the passenger side door in an attempt to flee from the officer standing on the passenger side.  

  

As Young was attempting to flee, the driver, who was later identified as Terrence Toshay Thomas, Jr of  Capitol Heights, was awakened, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at the officer and the passenger who were on the passenger side of the vehicle. Fearing for the lives of the officer and the passenger, the officer on the driver’s side of the vehicle discharged his service weapon striking Thomas twice in the chest. After a brief foot chase, Young was then apprehended and taken into custody.

Officers immediately performed life saving measures on Thomas. Thomas was subsequently taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Evidence teams recovered the handgun displayed by the driver and a second weapon, a rifle, which were both located inside the vehicle.  Both weapons are under forensic investigation and review.

Young was taken into custody and charged with various firearm related charges and is being held without bond in the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.

 The officer who discharged his weapon is Police Officer Steven Tucker, age 22. He has been with the Prince George’s county police department for a year and a half. The officers involved were not hurt or injured as result of the incident.

There is more about this incident in the Washington Post.

I documented this site a day after the incident. No memorial had been able to be built at the time.

Rest In Paradise. Street memorial for Marquette Tyler | 3300 block of 22nd Street SE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 3300 block of 22nd Street SE, Washington DC, on Tuesday, November 22, 2016. At approximately 8:41 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. All lifesaving efforts failed and he was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Marquette Tyler, 26, of Southeast, DC.

My he indeed rest in paradise.

"In Gods Hands" - Shrine at the site of a double homicide. Samuelle Buie and Rassaan Jennings | 3000 block of Stanton Road SE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a double homicide that occurred in the 3000 block of Stanton Road SE, Washington DC, on Friday, November 11, 2016. At 1:27 am, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Seventh District heard the sounds of gunshots in the area of the 3000 block of Stanton Road SE. After a brief canvass, members located two adult males; both were unconscious and unresponsive, and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the victims to local hospitals, where lifesaving efforts failed. Both were pronounced dead. The decedents have been identified as Samuelle Buie, 25, and Rassaan Jennings, 19, both of Southeast, DC.

This large shrine is at the site of the slaying of both Mr. Buie and Mr. Jennings.

May they and their families have peace.

Peace.

I revisited this site with Lara Ajami on February 5, 2019. The shrines have been kept up in memory of these men.

Shrine for Todd Webb and Brian Davis | 6800 block of Walker Mill Road, Capitol Heights MD

From a Prince George's County police report: Homicide Unit detectives arrested a man in connection with the fatal shooting of Todd Webb, 14, in Capitol Heights, Maryland, early Sunday morning. The suspect is Bravon Freeman, 22, of Southeast Washington.
The investigation continues into identifying and arresting the suspect(s) who shot and killed Brian Davis, 18, at that same shooting scene minutes earlier.  On October 30, 2016, at about 2:45 am, patrol officers were called to the 6800 block of Walker Mill Road for a shooting. They discovered a total of six shooting victims in the parking lot. Webb and Davis were pronounced dead on the scene.
The preliminary investigation reveals the six victims and Freeman were among a group of people who were gathered outside an apartment building to take part in or watch a dice game. For a reason which remains under investigation, a suspect or suspects began to shoot into the group. Davis was killed in that shooting. Several minutes later, detectives believe Freeman went inside the building, got a gun and then shot and killed Webb. Responding patrol officers arrested Freeman on the scene.

Freeman is in the custody of the Department of Corrections being held on a no bond status. He is charged with first and second degree murder.

This crime scene tape marking the site of the double homicide is adjacent to a small shopping center.

I visited the site again on January 10, 2017. This memorial to Mr. Webb and Mr. Davis had been erected on the grounds of a gas station where they went to their eternal rest.

Peace and justice. A prayer.

Memorial for Breyona McMillian, Potomac Gardens, 1200 block of I Street SE DC

Breyona McMillian, 16, was shot down on November 25, 2016, when a gunman fired into a crowd in the Potomac Gardens apartment complex. It appears that she was not an intended target. By all accounts she was a promising and positive young woman, whose life was tragically ended in a storm of completely senseless violence.

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 1200 block of I Street SE, Washington DC, on Friday, November 25, 2016. At approximately 11:42 am, members of the First District responded to the listed location for a report of the Sounds of Gunshots. Upon arrival, members located a juvenile female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim,  identified as Breyona McMillian, 16, of Southeast DC, to an area hospital. All lifesaving efforts failed and she was pronounced dead.

The mayor and acting police chief have decried this sad situation, and have stepped up efforts for security in the area, to bring some justice to Ms. McMillian and her grieving family.and friends.

This memorial to her life is in a courtyard near the site of her slaying. The "Love not hate" sign appears in a window directly across the courtyard from where the shrine has been erected.

There is more on this sad situation in the Washington Post.

Peace. Shalom. ברוך דיין האמת. Blessed be the True Judge.  

Street memorial to Deon Calvin Smith, 4600 block Livingston Rd SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 4600 block of Livingston Road SE, Washington DC, on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. At approximately 9:31 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The first victim was an adult male, unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital, where all lifesaving efforts failed and he was pronounced dead. The second victim located at the scene was an adult female suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Deon Calvin Smith, of Oxon Hill, MD.

I spoke at this large and vibrant street memorial with his older brother. The shrine was built with a vigil on the site of Deon Smith's death, across the street from where it is now (the property management company did not want it on their lot). He had been shot eight times. There was a vigil held for him by his friends and family, and many libations were poured. There were initially many liquor bottles on the site in honor of Deon's life, but the DC police put a notice on the shrine, and removed the bottles after 30 days. Mr. Smith leaves behind a young son, and his girlfriend is pregnant with another. The children are being cared for by the family. He had grown up and lived in this neighborhood his entire life.

A wish for wisdom, justice, and peace for all concerned.

A video in Deon Smith's memory, which includes a view of this shrine, has been posted by the rap group Duffy Gang.

Police tape | Doran Melvin Woodson, 5200 block of Just Street NE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 5200 block of Just Street NE, Washington DC, Saturday, September 17, 2016. At approximately 10:41 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to a call for a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and determined life-saving efforts were futile.  The victim remained on the scene until being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The decedent has been identified as 28-year-old Doran Melvin Woodson of Northeast, DC.

Police tape | Eric Garrett, 2300 block of 11th Street NW DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 2300 block of 11th Street NW, Washington DC, on Monday, September 12, 2016. At approximately 12:26 am, members of the Third District responded to a call for a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. On Sunday, September 18, 2016, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as 23-year-old Eric Garrett, of Northwest, DC.

Terrence Sterling shrine, 3rd and M streets NW DC

This memorial to Mr. Sterling is at the site of his death. There have been protests there regarding the role of the DC police.

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau responded to a police-involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at the corner of 3rd Street and M Street NW, Washington DC

At approximately 4:30 am, an officer observed a motorcyclist driving recklessly near the 1700 block of U Street, Northwest. A few minutes later, another MPD officer observed a motorcycle matching the same description near 3rd Street and M Street, Northwest. When the officer was exiting the passenger side of his marked police cruiser to stop the driver, the motorcyclist intentionally drove into the passenger door and the officer fired his service weapon.

The motorcyclist, identified as Terrence Sterling, 31, of Fort Washington, Maryland, was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The officer involved in this incident did not sustain serious injuries and has been placed on administrative leave.

For additional information, see also this news report: http://heavy.com/news/2016/09/terrence-sterling-terence-washington-d-c-police-shooting-body-camera-cam-video-unarmed-terrance-protests-kaepernick/

Shrines for Kevin Anthony Jackson II | 1900 block of 17th Street SE

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 1900 block of 16th Street SE, Washington DC, on Thursday, September 1, 2016. At approximately 2:19 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the area and located a juvenile male suffering from a gunshot wound.  Members also located an adult male, suffering from a gunshot wound in the 1900 block of 17th Street, Southeast.  DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported both victims to an area hospital.  The adult male victim is in critical but stable condition. The juvenile male victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced. The decedent has been identified as Kevin Anthony Jackson II, 17,  of Southeast, DC.

There were two shrines erected in the neighborhood for Mr. Jackson. One of the shrines, at the site of his passing, was pointed out to me by one of his friends.

According to an article in the Washington Post, there was a vigil held in his memory.“There was promise in him,” said Troy Prestwood, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the Anacostia area. “People liked him.” His family and friends “wanted to honor this young man whose life was snuffed out by senseless violence...” He was a student at Anacostia High School, and “I’m sure he was thinking about his future,” Prestwood said.