Street shrine for Ervin Henderson, Jr. aka Big Gotti | 1200 block Orren Street NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred Monday, March 22, 2021, in the 1200 block of Orren Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:51 am, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and found no signs consistent with life. The decedent has been identified as 28 year-old Ervin Henderson, Jr., of Northeast DC.  

The late Mr. Henderson was known in the community as Big Gotti. I spoke with a couple of his friends who stopped by the shrine, one of whom said he protects himself mentally by remaining numb to all the violence. He grew up in the neighborhood (Trinidad/Ivy City) and that murder was constant in his youth, and is still continuing. I hope that this situation changes, and that justice and quiet mercy reign.

Street shrine to Kevontae Clyburn | 4900 block Glassmanor Drive, Oxon Hill MD

From a Prince George’s County Police report: The Prince George’s Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The victim is 19-year-old Kevontae Clyburn of Oxon Hill. On March 6, 2021, at approximately 7:50 pm, patrol officers responded to the 4900 block of Glassmanor Drive, Oxon Hill, for a shooting. The victim was located outside suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. 

This touching memorial to young Mr. Clyburn is in a quiet residential neighborhood near the District line.

Street memorial for Marceese Norman aka Teese | 2300 block Whitehall Street, Suitland MD

From a Prince George’s County Police report: Prince George’s Homicide Unit detectives arrested two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting in Suitland, Maryland. They are 19-year-old Keimoni Shepard of Greenbelt, Maryland and 19-year-old Brendan Cooley of Suitland, Maryland. They’re charged with fatally shooting  30-year-old Marceese Norman of District Heights, Maryland. On March 29, 2021, at approximately 7:30 pm, officers responded to the 2300 block of Whitehall Street, Suitland, Maryland. The victim was located inside of a car suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspects and victim are known to each other and had been involved in an on-going dispute. The suspects are charged with first and second degree murder and related charges. They are in the custody of the Department of Corrections. A commissioner ordered them held on a no-bond status. 

RIP.

Memorial for Nicolas Hawkins | 600 block O Street NW DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred Saturday, March 13, 2021, in the 600 block of O Street NW, Washington DC. At approximately 10:43 pm, members of the Third District responded to the listed location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where, despite all life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as Nicolas Hawkins, 29, of Greenbelt, MD. 

This is the second recent slaying in this block. May there be peace under heaven.

Shrine to unknown victim(s) | Good Hope Road SE DC

Street shrine to unknown person or persons, Good Hope Road SE, Washington DC.

A recent double homicide took place in an apartment complex close by, and this memorial may be for the two victims, Wanda and Ebony Wright, but the presence of a license plate makes me think it may perhaps be otherwise. 

In any case, may peace and justice be served.

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Monday, April 12, 2021 in the 2300 block of Good Hope Court SE, Washington, DC. At approximately 7:33 pm, members of DC Fire and EMS responded to the listed location for the report of a fire. Moments later members of the Seventh District were dispatched to the listed location for reports of a shooting. On arrival, members located one female suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Two additional adult female victims were located suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims displayed no signs consistent with life. The other victim was transported to a local hospital, and despite all lifesaving efforts, succumbed to her injuries. The decedents have been identified as 48 year-old Wanda Wright and 32-year old Ebony Wright, both of Southeast DC. 

Officer William Evans | US Capitol, Constitution and Delaware Avenues NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch and Internal Affairs Bureau, in conjunction with the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating a homicide and United States Capitol Police Officer Involved Shooting that occurred on Friday, April 2, 2021, at the intersection of Constitution and Delaware Avenue NE, Washington DC. Just after 1:00 pm, a suspect driving a blue sedan entered the north gate on Constitution Avenue and intentionally struck two on duty United States Capitol Police Officers with his vehicle. The suspect then rammed the vehicle into the blocking barricade. The suspect exited the vehicle armed with a large knife and charged toward another United States Capitol Police Officer. The officer discharged their service weapon striking the suspect. The suspect’s knife was recovered on the scene. One of the United States Capitol Police Officers was quickly transported to a local hospital in a United States Capitol Police cruiser with life-threatening injuries. The officer, 41 year old William Evans, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the suspect and the second injured United States Capitol Police Officer to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The second United States Capitol Police Officer was admitted to the hospital for serious but non-life threatening injuries, and was later released. The suspect has been identified as 25 year-old Noah Green, of no fixed address. 

Officer Evans was honored by having his coffin lie in state in the US Capitol and by having flags lowered throughout the city. May his memory be for a blessing.

Shrine for Dorian Hurd 2nd | 4300 block of Saint Barnabas Road, Temple Hills MD

From a Prince George’s County Police report: The Prince George’s Homicide Unit charged a suspect for a murder in Temple Hills, Maryland. The suspect is 29-year-old Tevin Ream of of Oxon Hill, Maryland. He’s charged with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Dorian Hurd 2nd of Laurel, Maryland.  On March 18, 2021, at approximately 5:50 pm, patrol officers responded to the 4300 block of Saint Barnabas Road, Temple Hills, Maryland, for a shooting. Officers located Hurd outside suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The preliminary investigation revealed Ream shot the victim in a shopping center parking lot. Responding patrol officers located the suspect nearby and arrested him. The motive for the fatal shooting is under investigation. Ream is charged with first and second degree murder and additional charges. 

Peace peace peace.

Street memorial for Devin Solomon | 2300 block of Penbrook Circle, Palmer Park, MD

From a Prince George's County Police report: The Prince George’s Homicide Unit arrested and charged a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting in Palmer Park. The suspect is 26-year-old William Patrick Wells II of Capitol Heights, Mayland. He’s charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Devin Solomon of Landover, Maryland. 

On March 30, 2021, at approximately 10:00 am, patrol officers responded to the 2300 block of Penbrook Circle, Palmer Park, Maryland, for the report of a shooting. Officers located Solomon in the roadway suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Approximately 10 minutes later, two adults with gunshot wounds arrived at an area hospital. An adult female suffered serious but preliminarily non-life-threatening injuries. An adult male, Wells, was treated and released into police custody. The preliminary investigation revealed Wells and Solomon shot each other during a dispute. They are known to each other. Wells is charged with second degree murder and additional charges. He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. No other arrests are expected. 

RIP

Antuan Davis and Anthony Davis: Double homicide | 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 Saturday, April 3, 2021, in the 4200 block of 4th Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 10:14 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located two adult males, inside of a residential building, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and found that both victims displayed no signs consistent with life. Investigation at the scene revealed that the offense occurred inside of the residential building. The decedents have been identified as 26 year-old Antuan Davis, of no fixed address, and 29 year-old Anthony Davis, of Temple Hills, MD. 

I spoke at length with a young woman who grew up on the block, and who saw murders as a child; a man got his head blown off by a dumpster outside her window when she was a girl. "A child should not have to see that" she said.  She and another young woman I spoke with knew both victims since they were small. She was sad to relate that their mother lost both of her sons. She spoke about "peace," and that she "now lives in a more peaceful part of the city," but often visits friends & relatives where she grew up. She said the shrine was built by the whole community; these young men were loved by many.

Mural for Chyna | 4200 block 6th St SE DC

This mural for Chyna, aka Lorraine Marie Thomas, is at the corner of 6th Street SE, Washington DC, near Chesapeake Street SE.

She was slain nearby on Friday, October 30, 2020, in the 4200 block of Fourth Street SE, Washington DC. A street memorial was also erected to her life there at that time.

More information about this situation can be viewed here.

RIP Chyna.