Memorial for Karon Brown, eleven years old / 2700 block of Naylor Road SE DC / Salaam aleikum

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announce an arrest has been made in a homicide that occurred on Thursday, July 18, 2019, in the 2700 block of Naylor Road SE, Washington DC. At approximately 6:57 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. While investigating, MPD was notified that a juvenile male, suffering from a gunshot wound, was taken to a Prince George’s County Fire Department Fire Station. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Karon Brown, 11, of Southeast DC.

On Saturday, July 20, 2019, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, Tony Antoine McClam, 29, of Southeast DC, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder While Armed.

There has been quite a lot of press regarding the loss of this boy's life. His funeral was heavily attended, and both the Mayor and Police Chief made statements regarding the situation, according to the Washington Post.

The man pictured is the child's grandfather, who was praying when I got there, and keeping a dignified vigil over the memorial. We spoke for a while, but there are no words adequate to understand or simply heal a loss of this nature.  Salaam aleikum. May peace be with you sir, and with all your family.

Street memorial for Jamal Bandy / 1300 Block of Congress 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 Sunday, July 21, 2019, in the 1300 Block of Congress Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 7:41 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim in an alley, unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Jamal Bandy, 27, of no fixed address.

I spoke with a grassroots community activist at the site, a man I have shared with at shrines sites in this area in the past. He spoke of his dreams of a violence-free neighborhood. I wish him and his entire community peace, prosperity, and harmony.

Street shrine for Francis Lee Savoy / 300 block of 50th 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 Friday, July 26, 2019, in the 300 block of 50th Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 12:05 am, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim, inside of a vehicle, 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 victim has been identified as Francis Lee Savoy, 37, of Southeast DC.

There were two adjacent trees decorated with balloons and other objects to honor the memory of Mr. Savoy.

Large shrine honoring Dominic Robinson | 900 block Division Avenue NE DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in the 900 block Division Avenue NE, Washington DC. At approximately 12:02 am, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim inside of a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Dominic Robinson, 32, of Northeast DC.


There was a person at this shrine who knocked over many of the bottles and took away three of them while I was there. I cautioned the person regarding this. It is the first time I have witnessed anything of this sort.

Mr. Robinson obviously had a large group of well-wishers who are grieving his loss. May they all know peace.

"it’s nothing but people trying to take your life away" Memorial to a double murder | Ahkii Washington-Scruggs and Hugh Washington | 1100 block of Queen 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 Friday, July 19, 2019, inside of a residence, in the 1100 block of Queen Street NE, Washington, DC. At approximately 5:49 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to a residence at the listed location for the report of two unconscious males. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim and a juvenile male victim. Both were unconscious and unresponsive suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found that the victims displayed no signs consistent with life. The decedents have been identified as Ahkii Washington-Scruggs, 17, and Hugh Washington, 57, both of Northeast DC.

This memorial to father and son is in the Ivy City community.


The Washington Post published a poem written by Ahkii Washington-Scruggs, that he had recently shared with his coach at Dunbar High School.

"In D.C., it's nothing but people trying to take your life away. I'm from a city where it's a blessing to see the age 20. Every day I hear out of town people say D.C. is so great. But in my head, I just say D.C. is full of hate."  

May they rest in peace.

Police tape at the site of Eric Byrd's slaying / 1100 block of U Street NW 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 20, 2019, in the 1100 block of U Street NW, Washington DC. At approximately 2:42 am, members of the Third District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Eric Byrd, 34, of Southeast DC.

Police tape at the site of Clifton Telfaire's slaying / 1100 block of North Capitol Street NW DC

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Thursday, July 11, 2019, in the 1100 block of North Capitol Street NW, Washington DC. At approximately 4:11 pm, members of the First District responded to the rear of the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. After all lifesaving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Clifton Telfaire, 33, of Northwest DC.

DC shrines- exhibition and workshop / Zenith Community Arts

I will have a projection of my DC shrines work included as part of an exhibition "Peril," curated Elizabeth Ashe of Zenith Community Arts. The opening will be this Saturday August 3, from 2 to 6 PM at H-Space at 1932 9 1/2th Street NW, Washington DC 20001. Please come see and share the work. 

My colleague, the soul-filled artist documenting the impact of violence on our community, Brother Curtis E. Mozie, will also be showing his video work. 

We will be doing a photo and video documentary workshp together on August 18th at the same location.

Peace. See you there.

Arkeem Jackson / memorial in the 4200 block of 4th Street SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sunday, June 16, 2019, in the 4300 block of 4th Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:15 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim, unconscious and not breathing, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 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. Additionally, members located an adult female victim, conscious and breathing, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.  The decedent has been identified as Arkeem Jackson, 30, of Southeast DC.

This shrine was in the 4200 block, immediately adjacent the 4300 block.

RIP.

"For Every Dark Night There's A Bright Day." Shrine for Melton Grant | 600 block of Morton Street NW DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Saturday, June 22, 2019, in the 600 block of Morton Street NW, Washington DC. At approximately 9:51 pm, members of the Fourth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim, unconscious and not breathing, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 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. Additionally, members located a second adult male victim in the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue, Northwest, conscious and breathing, suffering from a gunshot wound.  The decedent has been identified as Melton Grant, 45, of no fixed address.

I spoke with several folks at this site. There were many people gathered around the memorial, with much sweet-smelling smoke in the air.

They blessed me for my work.

I wished them peace and condolences.

We remember Lola - Memorial for Lola Gulomova / 4300 block Windom Place NW DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide and a suicide that occurred on Friday, June 7, 2019, inside of a residence, in the 4300 block of Windom Place NW, Washington DC. At approximately 9:25 am, members of the Second District responded to the listed location for a check on the welfare. Upon arrival, members gained entry to a residence at the listed location and observed an adult male with a handgun. Officers heard a gunshot then found the adult male suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. An unconscious and unresponsive adult female was also found inside the residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found that the female victim displayed no signs consistent with life. The male was transported to an area hospital. After all life-saving efforts failed, he was pronounced dead.  The male decedent has been identified as Jason Rieff, 51, of Northwest, DC. The female decedent has been identified as Lola Gulomova, 45, of Northwest, DC.
Preliminary investigation by detectives from the Homicide Branch suggest that Ms. Gulomova’s death is a homicide and Mr. Rieff’s death is a suicide. The investigation also revealed that this incident is domestic in nature.

According to the Washington Post, Ms. Gulamov and Mr. Reiff were US Foreign Service officers. They were undergoing a contentious divorce, and she leaves behind two young daughters.

Flowers & memory.
And peace for the children.