"Heaven Got Beautiful Angels" | memorials to Claudia Menjivar, Dayanna Gutierrez, and Carlos Gutierrez | 500 block Florida Ave Herndon VA

From a Herndon (Virginia) Police report:  Homicide 6/19/2021 500-blk Florida Ave, Herndon VA. Around 7:30 AM on Saturday, June 19, 2021, HPD received a call from Fairfax County Police Department regarding an incident that just occurred in Reston. A subject had died by suicide and prior to his death, he made statements regarding the welfare of three individuals: one adult and two juveniles. Based on the information received at the scene and from residents in Herndon, our officers responded to a home in the 500-block of Florida Avenue for a welfare check. Upon arriving on the scene, our officers located the bodies of the deceased victims in the home. We can confirm that the three were victims of a homicide. The case remains under investigation.

Excerpts from a report in The Washington Post: Family members on Sunday mourned the deaths of a woman and her two children, slain a day earlier in what Herndon police called a “horrific” triple homicide the day before Father’s Day. The woman was Claudia Menjivar, 34, and her two children, Dayana Gutierrez, 12, and Carlos Josué Gutierrez, 10, according to Erlinda Gutierrez, whose brother used to be in a relationship with Menjivar and is the father of the two children. The three died in their home in Herndon, police said. “She was a good mom to my nephews. She was a hard-working girl,” Erlinda Gutierrez said. “She didn’t have any problems with anyone.”

Few new details emerged Sunday about the killings, but police said the deaths appear to be linked to a suicide that took place early Saturday at a parking garage in nearby Reston. Fairfax County police responded just before 6 a.m. to a 911 call about “an emotionally disturbed person” at the parking garage, according to Fairfax police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Officers arrived to find a man threatening to jump from the roof of the garage, which is at Reston Town Center.

Guglielmi said the man told police that people had been harmed inside a home in Herndon. Guglielmi said he does not know whether the man said he caused the harm. The man jumped from the roof about 6:30 a.m., despite officers’ efforts to prevent it, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Fairfax police then contacted Herndon police and asked them to check on the house the man had mentioned in Herndon. With assistance from neighbors, Herndon police entered the house in the 500 block of Florida Avenue. They found a “very horrific” scene, Herndon Police Chief Maggie A. DeBoard said. The three victims were found dead inside the home. DeBoard said investigators determined the man had “a personal relationship” with the adult victim. 

Erlinda Gutierrez said police contacted her brother to inform him that his former partner was the woman who died Saturday, along with their children. She said Menjivar is from El Salvador and worked as a housekeeper. The children were enrolled at Herndon Elementary School. Menjivar loved music, ranging from Mexican singer Chalino Sánchez’s 1990s song “Los Chismes” to contemporary Spanish-language music. Her biography on Facebook contains a lyric from La Makina’s “Nadie Se Muere”: “Nadie se muere por un amor que no le conviene,” which translates to, “Nobody dies for a love that does not suit them.” 

Erlinda Gutierrez said she and her family are struggling to process the deaths. “I don’t know why someone would do that to two innocent kids.” Saturday, she said, was Dayana Gutierrez’s 12th birthday."

I was very moved and saddened to document this large memorial site in a quiet garden apartment complex. There were many children playing nearby while I was there, and there were visitors paying the respects.

A terrible tragedy. May they all rest in peace, and their families and community heal and be comforted.

There is more information on the Herndon Patch site and on People magazine's site.

Ella-Mae Neal's Tree of Life | Memorial in the 1800 block of Q Street SE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch seek assistance in identifying and locating a vehicle of interest in a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in the 1800 block of Q Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 10:09 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, members located an adult female victim, suffering from an apparent 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 65 year-old Ella-Mae Neal, of Southeast DC.  

May her memory be for a blessing.

Roadside memorial for Harold Biddiex | 600 Block of Mellon Street SE DC

This striking shrine is just a half block off Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Saturday, May 29, 2021, in the 600 Block of Mellon Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 8:26 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male, inside of a vehicle, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found that the victim displayed no signs consistent with life. The decedent has been identified as 35 year-old Harold Biddiex, of Greenbelt, MD. 

RIP.

Shrine for J’Lyn Quinones " In memory of a life beautifully lived" | Quinn Street and Southern Avenue, Prince George's County MD

A heartbreaking tragedy. 

From a PG County Police report: The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating the fatal shooting of 18-year-old J’Lyn Quinones of Suitland, MD. Quinones and a second female were shot in the unincorporated section of Capitol Heights. The second victim’s injuries are not considered life-threatening. Quinones was pregnant. Her unborn baby was delivered during emergency surgery and is currently in critical but stable condition. On April 20, 2021, at approximately 4:45 pm, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department observed Quinones and the second female victim in distress at the intersection of Rail Street and Southern Avenue in Southeast DC. The officers discovered they were both suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were rushed for emergency medical treatment. Quinones died of her injuries a short time later. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect shot both victims as they were crossing Quinn Street toward Southern Avenue. The victims then ran down Southern Avenue and crossed into DC seeking help. 

Prayers for the life of the departed Ms. Quinones and for that of her now motherless baby.

Street memorial | 1500 block of Maryland Avenue NE DC

As there have been several memorials to homicide victims built in this small park at the intersections of H Street, Florida Avenue, Benning and Bladensburg Roads NE, I am not completely certain who this one was erected for. The most recent slaying in the area was of Kareem Elliot Watkins, who was killed in this block of Maryland Avenue NE on May 11th, 2021.

There was also a newborn child, Kyon Jones, who was killed close by on May 7th.

May they, and the community, have rest and be free from all troubles.

From a DC Police report:  Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue NE, Washington DC. At approximately 3:51 am, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found no signs consistent with life. The decedent remained on the scene until being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The decedent has been identified as 43 year-old Kareem Elliot Watkins, of Temple Hills, MD. 

From a DC Police report on the slaying of the infant Kyon Jones: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announce an arrest has been made in reference to a missing person / homicide investigation that occurred on Friday, May 7, 2021, in the 1500 block of Benning Road NE, Washington DC. At approximately 1:10 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of a check on the welfare of an infant child. Upon arrival, officers located the mother, who was unaware of the infant’s whereabouts. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division responded to the scene and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing person’s disappearance. The missing person was identified as 2-month-old Kyon Jones, of Northeast DC.

 Based upon the suspicious nature of the missing person’s disappearance, the Homicide Branch assumed investigative responsibility of the case. The missing person’s remains have not been located at this time, however, based upon the information gathered during the investigation a suspect was identified and charged accordingly. Additionally, it was determined that this offense is domestic in nature. On Friday, May 14, 2021, 37 year-old Ladonia Boggs, of Northeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Felony Murder. 

Candles from the vigil for Kassius-Khon Glay | Emery Heights Community Center 5801 Georgia Ave NW DC

There was a large gathering at the Emery Heights Community Center to honor the memory of slain teenager, Kassius-Khon Glay. A deeply moving article about his life and the efforts of his parents to advocate for youth is in the Washington Post.

The markings on this basketball court come from the wax of the many candles lit for young Mr. Glay

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday, May 28, 2021, in the 600 block of Upshur Street NW, Washington DC. At approximately 11:51 am, members of the Fourth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located a juvenile male and an adult male both suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found that the juvenile male victim displayed no signs consistent with life. The decedent remained on the scene until transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The adult male victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The decedent has been identified as 16 year-old Kassius-Khon Glay, of Northwest DC. 

Shrine to Kentrell Devaughn | 1500 block of 45th Street NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Monday, April 19, 2021, in the 1500 block of 45th Street NE, Washington DC. At approximately 7:57 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the 4500 block of Quarles Street NE for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male, inside of a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The detectives’ investigation revealed the offense occurred in the 1500 block of 45th Street Northeast. On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The decedent has been identified as 27 year-old Kentrell Devaughn, of Northeast DC.  

Peace. Forever.

Candles, flowers, and plushies in memory of Malik Tyger | 100 block of 35th Street SE DC

 

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in the 100 block of 35th Street SE, Washington DC. At approximately 11:14 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, members located an adult male victim, in a residential building, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and found no signs consistent with life. The decedent has been identified as 20 year-old Malik Tyger, of Southeast DC.

May he rest in peace.

Roadside memorial for Michael Squire | Silver Hill Road and Porter Avenue, Suitland MD

From a PG County Police report: The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal shooting in Suitland, Maryland. The victim is 25-year-old Michael Squire of District Heights. On May 15, 2021, at approximately 10:15 pm, officers responded to the intersection of Silver Hill Road and Porter Avenue, Suitland, Maryland, for a collision involving an SUV and a car. Once on scene, officers located Squire in the driver’s seat of the SUV suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured. Detectives are working to identify who shot Squire and determine a motive.