Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Memorial for the life of Makiyah Wilson, ten years old, unjustly slain | 300 block of 53rd Street NE DC

This large memorial is for a child, Makiyah Wilson, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in her Clay Terrace neighborhood. She was on her way to buy popsicles from an ice cream truck when she was gunned down.

This exceptionally large shrine to her memory is built in front of her home, where she lived and died. There are several small markers and memorials throughout the courtyard.

May her memory ever be for a blessing, and serve to remind us of the terrible cost of violence.
Peace peace peace. Stop the killing.

From a DC Police Report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch seek the public’s assistance in identifying and locating suspects and a vehicle in connection to a homicide that occurred on Monday, July 16, 2018, in the 300 block of 53rd Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 8:00 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located a juvenile female, an adult female, and an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victims to area hospitals. After all life-saving efforts failed, the juvenile female victim, identified as Makiyah Wilson, 10, of Northeast DC, was pronounced dead. Two other adult male victims sought treatment at an area hospital for gunshot wounds.
The suspects’ vehicle is described as a black Infinti four door sedan, with the rear bumper missing.

There is a moving and detailed report on the situation in the Washington Post.








I revisited this shrine site on March 14, 2019, and observed this very touching bracelet in memory of Makiyah.

In memory of Lusharone Nicholson | 1500 block of 19th Street SE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in the 1500 block of 19th Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:19 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female, inside of a residence, suffering from multiple stab wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and found that the victim, identified as Lusharone Nicholson, 44, of Southeast DC, displayed no signs consistent with life.

May there be peace for her, her circle of family, and justice.




Street memorial for Oscar Rene-Espinal / 5400 block of Carters Lane, Riverdale Heights MD

From a PG County Police report: Detectives with our Homicide Unit are conducting an investigation into the fatal shooting of a man Monday in Riverdale Heights, Maryland. The victim is Oscar Rene-Espinal, 36, of Riverdale Heights. On June 25th, 2018, at approximately 7:15 am, patrol officers were called to the 5400 block of Carters Lane, Riverdale Heights, for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Rene-Espinal unresponsive in the roadway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Detectives are working to identify a suspect(s) and a motive.

Paz.




While looking for a possible memorial to Jose Vasquez Lopez, 45, who was slain in this same block on March 22, 2020, I re-documented this shrine to Mr. Rene-Espinal, which has been kept up and expanded. There was no visible memorial to Mr. Lopez.


Police tape in an alley for Michael Miller / 1600 block of Minnesota Avenue SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Saturday, July 21, 2018, in the 1600 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, Washington DC. At approximately 9:15 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim, in an alley, suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. The victim, identified as Michael Miller, 37, of Southeast DC, displayed no signs consistent with life.
Detectives seek the public’s assistance in locating the decedent’s vehicle. The vehicle is described as a 2007 dark gray Lexus IS250 four door sedan. The vehicle has a Washington, DC license plate number of FN2337t

Sad. May there be peace.

Memorial for Jeffrey Wayne Price, 500 block of Division Street NE DC

A complicated tale...

From a DC Police report:  Investigators with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on Friday, May 4, 2018, at the intersection of Division Avenue and Fitch Place NE, Washington DC. A preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 1:49 pm, a dirt bike was traveling northbound in the 500 block of Division Avenue on the wrong side of the roadway. While the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed on Division Avenue, it struck a marked police vehicle. Officers rendered aid to the operator of the dirt bike until DC Fire and EMS transported the operator to a local hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead.
The decedent has been identified as Jeffrey Wayne Price, 22, of Northeast, DC.
This incident remains under investigation.



Excerpted from a TV news report:
A deadly crash involving a dirt bike and a DC police vehicle is still under investigation as family and friends of the man killed are questioning what exactly led to the collision. Jeffrey Price was killed when his dirt bike struck the police cruiser last Friday afternoon on Division Avenue and Fitch Place in Northeast DC.

DC police's preliminary investigation has revealed that Price was riding his dirt bike northbound on Division Avenue when it crossed onto the wrong side of the roadway. They said Price was speeding when it struck the marked DC police cruiser. However, Price’s family told reprorters that several witnesses have told them that police were pursuing Price before he crashed, and that the cruiser he hit pulled out to block his path. Two teenage witnesses, whose parents asked that they not be identified,  said they saw an officer pull in front of Price, causing the crash.
"Jeffrey was coming down here zooming on the dirt bike and the police officer had just like pushed over there and made him like hit the door and then the wheel went into the door. He had flew, hit the ground," said one of the teenagers. The other also shared a similar story.

Dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited from traveling on the roadways in the District, but it is against police department policy to pursue these illegal vehicles because of safety issues.

“We don’t have any information to suggest there was a pursuit,” he said. “There were several witnesses that were out on their porches that day. We spoke to all of them and none of them suggested it was a pursuit. So if the family has somebody that is saying this, we would like to hear from them.”

When we asked the police chief if there was a blocking maneuver used by police, Newsham said, “That remains to be seen. I can tell you if you go up to the scene and see this for yourself, the motorcycle left about 60 yards of skid marks before it struck the vehicle, so it appears we had an unauthorized vehicle on the streets of the District of Columbia operating at a high rate of speed. What caused of the accident remains to be seen.”

A memorial at the scene of the crash continues to grow as Price's friends are upset and believe police played a role in his death. “He was a genuine person, very genuine and he is going to be missed and he is going to be loved,” said Ashley Dorsey, Price’s friend. “We are just trying to keep the peace and we want this to be noticed,” said another friend. “We don’t want this to be at a standstill. This thing is serious and the police need to be held accountable for their actions also.”
The. following night, several ATV and dirt bike riders were seen riding up and down the street on Division Avenue in the same area where Price was killed. A person on an ATV was seen riding slowly while he revved his engine, flashed his middle finger and performed wheelies as a DC police cruiser with its lights and siren on followed close behind him.

Police tape at the site of Monshae Burroughs's slaying / Unit block of 53rd Street SE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday, July 23, 2018, in the unit block of 53rd Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:10 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Monshae Burroughs, 22, of Northeast DC.

Shrine for Amer Miller in the 2400 block of Kent Village Drive of Landover MD

From a PG County Police report: Homicide Unit detectives identified and charged a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday July 14, 2018. The suspect is Davion Ballinger 26, of  Northwest Washington DC. On July 14th, 2018, at approximately 12:10 am, patrol officers responded to the 2400 block of Kent Village Drive in Landover for a shooting. Once on scene, they learned the victim, Amer Miller, 17, suffering from gunshot wounds had been driven to a hospital by a passerby where he later died. The preliminary investigation reveals the shooting occurred after Ballinger robbed Miller. Detectives were able to arrest Ballinger hours after the shooting. He is charged with first and second- degree murder and other related charges. He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.


Shrine for Michael Jones / 2400 block of Elvans Road SE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sunday, June 24, 2018, in the 2400 block of Elvans Road SE, Washington DC. At approximately 4:20 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the report of a shooting at the listed location. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim, identified as Michael Jones, 25, of District Heights, Maryland, to an area hospital for treatment of life threating injuries. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced.

Peace to his family, and to the community.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

"Vaya Con Dios/Blessings" - Memorial for Resham Bajgain / 3300 block of Franklin Farm Road, Herndon VA


This memorial is at a gas station in a quiet shopping center in Herndon, Virginia. There are numerous bouquets of flowers left there in honor and memory of Mr. Bajgain. May he rest in peace.
From the Washington Post: A 19-year-old Herndon man has been charged in the killing of a Sunoco gas station clerk early Wednesday, Fairfax County police said. Mohamed A. Abdullahi was arrested in a nearby shopping center parking lot just after 1:15 a.m. Wednesday July 4th, 2018 and charged in the death of Resham Bajgain, 40, also of Herndon, who died of blunt force trauma at the service station in the 13300 block of Franklin Farm Road, police said. They said that Abdullahi was attempting to rob the Sunoco station.