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/