Police tape for Evrett Harris | 200 block of Newton Street NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday, July 10, 2020, in the 2200 block of Newton Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 7:40 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious male victim, inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Evrett Harris, 19, of Southeast, DC.

RIP.

 

Shrine for a triple homicide - Claudette Williams, Marquise Lewis, and Juwan Wade | 5000 block of Bass Place SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in the 5000 block of Bass Place SE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:15 am, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious male victim and an unconscious female victim, inside of a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds. A second unconscious adult male victim was located nearby suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined that the victims displayed no signs consistent with life. The decedents have been identified as Claudette Williams, 56, of Southeast DC, Marquise Lewis, 29, of Clinton, MD, and Juwan Wade, 20, of Northeast DC. 

May all three rest in perpetual peace.

Memorial to Davon McNeal | 1400 block of Cedar Street SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in the 1400 block of Cedar Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 9:21 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Davon McNeal, 11, of Southeast DC.

There has been a lot of attention paid to this tragedy. Davon was attending an anti-violence event organized by family members in his neighborhood when he was caught in a crossfire and slain.

By all accounts Davon was an outstanding young man, an athlete of great promise, and his vigil and funeral were attended by hundreds of family, dignitaries, neighbors, and supporters.

Young Mr. McNeal lived in an apartment complex directly behind the historic Frederick Douglass house.

May his memory ever be for a blessing.

There is much more material on this very sad situation in articles in the Washington Post. 

One is here, the other here.

Thanks to reporter/activist John Muller for his help.

Peace. Peace.

Jaszel Henderson and Terrance Griffin's shrines | 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, in the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:39 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located two adult males and an adult female suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined the two male victims displayed no signs consistent with life. The female victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.

The decedents have been identified as Jaszel Henderson, 20, and Terrance Griffin, 31, both of Southeast DC.

These two memorials are just off the main avenue. May these two men have eternal rest.

Also: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Monday, July 6, 2020, in the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington DC. At approximately 11:25 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Everett King, 52, of Southeast DC. 0

I found no evidence of a memorial for Mr. King.

Site of the slaying of John Dennis Watts V | 4600 block of Dallas Place, Temple Hills MD

From a PG County Police report: Homicide Unit detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in Temple Hills, Maryland. The victim is John Dennis Watts V, 24, of Baltimore. Preliminarily, detectives do not believe this to be a random act of crime. On July 4, 2020, at approximately 9:30 pm, officers responded to the 4600 block of Dallas Place in Temple Hills for a reported shooting. When officers arrived on the scene, they located the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later. The preliminary investigation revealed that three additional people were also shot during this incident. They suffered what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries. 

RIP

Jordyn Simmons "You Are The Wind Beneath our Wings" | 1900 block of 18th Street SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday, July 3, 2020, in the 1900 block of 18th Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 11:13 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. A short time later, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The decedent has been identified as Jordyn Simmons, 20, of Hyattsville, MD. 

May Ms. Simmons have peace and beauty for ever and ever, and her memory be for a blessing.

I spoke with a mother and her pre-teen son at this site, who had heard the gunshots and witnessed the aftermath of this tragic slaying. They were duly concerned about the violence in the community, and expressed frustration and fear. We shared a wish for tranquility, comity, and peace.

"Stop Killing Our Queens" - shrine for Tamika Jones | 700 block 21st Street NE DC

From a DC police report. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday, July 10, 2020, in the 700 block of 21st Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 5:18 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious adult female victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Tamika Jones, 45, of Northeast DC. 

May this queen rest in peace.

Mural for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery | Emerson Street and Georgia Avenue NW DC

Street mural painted as a memorial to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, all recently slain by police. 

It is on Emerson Street near the corner of Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC

Black Lives Matter.

Justice.

Thanks to John Muller for the notification.

Shrines photo in Academy Art Museum exhibition

I have a photograph of one of my DC shrines that just went on display in an exhibition, New Photography II, at the academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland. The exhibition was curated by Phillip Brookman,

Shrines to African American victims murdered by police | Black Lives Matter Plaza (16th Street NW) DC

I photographed these memorials to numerous victims of police violence that were posted at Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Lafayette Park in Washington DC, adjacent to the White House in June 2020. They were erected on a barrier fence after the Tr*mp administration blocked access to the public park. 

The area was recently renamed "Black Lives Matter Plaza" by Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington DC.

Listed on the memorials are Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean, Philando Castile, Redel Jones, Sean Reed, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Kenny Watkins, Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, Michelle Shirley, Laquan McDonald, Jamar Clark, Trayvon Martin, and others.

Say the names. Remember them. Black Lives Matter.