Shrine to LGBTQ homicide victims at Casa Ruby, Georgia Avenue NW DC

I was covering Jewish volunteer efforts on Christmas Day at Casa Ruby, a bilingual center in Washington DC that "provides life saving services to the most vulnerable" LBTQ individuals in the DC area, and was shown this memorial to the many victims of homicide who were targeted just for being who they are.

I spoke about the memorial with executive director and founder, Ruby Corado. She told me that the shrine was built inside, rather than on the street, as a way to protect the memorial from bigotry and vandalism. It serves to honor those who lost their lives due to intolerance and hate.There are forty-seven individuals who the shrine commemorates.

Peace. Paz.

Police tape | 3100 block of South Manchester Street, Falls Church VA

This police tape marks the site of a murder-suicide that occurred in the Seven Corners area of Fairfax County, Virginia.

From a Fairfax County Police report: Mason District – Our Major Crimes and Crime Scene detectives continue to investigate after a man and woman were found dead outside of the entrance to an apartment building earlier today. Officers responded to the 3100 block of South Manchester Street in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County at 11:37 this morning after a delivery driver reported a shooting. Officers arrived to find Christopher Brooks, 30, and Katherine Martell, 30, dead.  Preliminarily, it appears Brooks hit Martel with a Nissan SUV. He then shot her prior to shooting himself. We do not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety. Brooks and Martell had a child together. The child was not at the scene and is safe with a family member. Martell lived in the building near where the shooting occurred.

From the Washington Post: The episode was called in by a UPS driver who was making deliveries to the nine-story building, Lt. John Lieb said. No one else was hurt in the incident.
The attack was over in seconds. Brooks, driving a white Nissan Rogue, struck Martell near the front entrance of the building at 3101 South Manchester St. Lieb said Brooks got out of the Rogue, shot Martell at least once and then shot himself.
It was not immediately known how many shots were fired or whether Martell was killed by the SUV or in the shooting.
Both people were pronounced dead at the scene.

This site is about 1/4 mile from my home in Arlington, VA.

Shrine to unknown person, possibly Jelani Mohammed | 1500 block of Benning Rd NE DC

Small street shrine to an unknown person, possibly Jelani Mohammed. There have been several recent slayings in this busy block.

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announce an arrest has been made in reference to a fatal stabbing that occurred on Thursday, November 8, 2018, in the 1500 block of Benning Road NE, Washington DC. At approximately 9:31 am, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim suffering from a stab 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 Jelani Mohammed, 38, of Silver Spring, MD. On Friday, November 9, 2018, Dale Thomas, 28, of Northeast DC, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder while Armed. On Wednesday, November 21, 2018, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Donnell Mills, 29, of Northeast DC. He was charged with First Degree Murder while Armed.

A flotilla of balloons for Leonard Ray | 3400 block of Croffut Place SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred On Thursday, December 6, 2018, in the 3400 block of Croffut Place SE, Washington DC. At approximately 2:59 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim, identified as Leonard Ray, 20, of Southeast DC, was pronounced dead.

This large street shrine of balloons and some Christmas items is in Mr. Ray's memory. May he rest in peace.

Shrine remnant to the memory of Randall Francis | 1800 block of Benning Road NEDC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch seek the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in connection to a homicide that occurred on Monday, November 26, 2018, in the 1800 block of Benning Road NE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:49 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located two adult male victims, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. The first victim displayed no signs consistent with life and remained on the scene until transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The second victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The decedent has been identified as Randall Francis, 20, of Southeast DC. The suspect has been identified as Malik Morris, 20, of Northeast DC. He is wanted for First Degree Murder While Armed.

Mr. Francis's life held much promise and he seems to have touched many. From the Washington Post. "Mr Francis died on the sidewalk at 1816 Benning Rd. NE, in front of the green-and-yellow door of the Baby Einstein Child Development Center, on a street already crowded with the memories of other crime victims.
A few doors down is another street-corner memorial — garland and beads spiraling up a no parking sign, a deflated balloon dangling from the top...
Benning Road east of the H Street entertainment strip has been a particularly violent stretch this year. Four people have been killed and several others wounded from the 1500 to the 1800 blocks in what police believe were unrelated attacks."

Thank you to Ms. Thomasina Reed, who told me that the shrine on this site had been just recently removed by the store owners (only the wax from the memorial candles remained), and to Lara Ajami, for her help, also.

A shrine for Snakey: Jacob Jones memorial | 5100 block of H 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 Saturday, December 8, 2018, in the 5100 block of H Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 12:18 am, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Moments later, Sixth District units were dispatched to Pennsylvania Avenue and Southern Avenue for the report of a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, members located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined the victim displayed no signs consistent with life. The decedent, identified as Jacob Jones, 32, of Southeast DC, was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy was performed. As a result, the cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

I spoke with his Mr. Jones' father (holding the button) and some neighbors at this large and visually vibrant memorial. His nickname was "Snakey," (which is why there were several toy snakes on the site) and according to a young observant Muslim woman who knew him and his family well, he was a positive person who didn't bother others, and will be missed.

Salaam/Peace/Shalom.

Scene at the site of Malik Muhammad's slaying | 800 Block of Taylor Street NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday, November 26, 2018, in the 800 Block of Taylor Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 6:34 pm, members of the Fourth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. On Saturday, December 1, 2018, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The decedent has been identified as Malik Muhammad, 37, of Bowie, MD.

I found these police evidence technician's gloves at the scene of the slaying. There were no other markers visible.

Thanks to Lara Ajami for her help.

Shrine for Eartha- 1500 block of Benning Road NE DC

I encountered this shrine to Eartha in the 1500 Benning Rd NE Washington, DC 2000. There have been several people slain in this busy block in the past few years, including a number recently.

I was unable to find any further information on her.

Thanks to Lara Ajami for her help.