Raymond Leon Ballard - "Steel Reserve" | 3000 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 fatal shooting in Southeast, DC. On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at approximately 9 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Seventh District responded to the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a man with gunshot wound injuries inside of a business. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Raymond Leon Ballard, of Southeast, DC. 

This memorial to Mr. Ballard is in a park near what locals term "The Corner." RIP.

Shrine in memory of Tyreek Sheldon Moore | 4600 block of Minnesota Avenue NE DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting. On Monday, January 22, 2024, at approximately 3:28 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District responded to the 4600 block of Minnesota Avenue NE, to assist Metro Transit Police officers with a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male with gunshot wound injuries. A short time later, officers located a male with gunshot wound injuries inside of a vehicle nearby. The male died at the scene and the juvenile male was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. The preliminary investigation revealed that the two victims were occupying a stolen Kia sedan and travelling northbound on Minnesota Avenue. The suspect vehicle pulled up next to the Kia sedan and opened fire. The suspect vehicle was later recovered unoccupied in the Sixth District on January 23, 2024. The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Tyreek Sheldon Moore, of Northeast, DC. 

This shrine in memory of Mr. Moore is adjacent to the Deanwood Metro station.

May his loved ones be spared further grief, and justice be served.

Police tape at the site of the end of Mr. Torrell O’Neal Page's life | 1200 block of Longfellow Street NW DC

From a DC Police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch are investigating a shooting that killed a man in Northwest D.C. On Monday, December 25, 2023, at approximately 8:34 a.m., Fourth District officers responded to the 1200 block of Longfellow Street NW, Washington DC, for the report of a man down. Upon arrival, officers located a man with gunshot wound injuries. He died at the scene. The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Torrell O’Neal Page, of Northwest, DC. 

R.I.P. 

Site of the death of Mr. Clifford Brooks | 1300 block of North Capitol Street NW DC

This tragic situation occurred on a very busy section of North Capitol Street, within site of the US Capitol dome. May there be justice and peace for all concerned.

From a DC Police report: Agents from the Force Investigation Team of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating an MPD officer-involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in the 1300 block of North Capitol Street NW. At approximately 6:43 a.m., officers responded to the 2500 block of Benning Road, Northeast, for a man experiencing a mental health crisis. Over the next two hours, the responding officers spoke with the man, successfully deescalating the situation. DC Fire and EMS then began transporting the man to an area hospital for additional treatment, and the responding officers followed behind the ambulance. During the transport, the man became combative and attacked the firefighter/paramedic who was riding with him, pinning her against the inside wall of the ambulance. She was able to slip out the side door of the ambulance and flee, and the man followed her outside. The officers that were following the ambulance went to stop the man, who lunged at and grabbed one of them. The officer attempted to stop the assaultive behavior by deploying OC spray and giving verbal commands. The OC spray did not take effect, and the man fled into traffic. The officer requested that additional units and an official respond to the scene to assist them. The man then crawled underneath a nearby truck and emerged with a metal object clenched in his right hand. The officer directed the man to drop the metal object, but he refused and moved towards him with the object raised. The officer retreated backwards and again directed the man to drop the metal object. The man charged towards the officer, grabbed at him, and swung the metal object at him. At that time, the officer discharged his firearm, striking the man. The ambulance crew that was on scene attempted life-saving measures. After all efforts failed, the man was pronounced dead. He has been identified as 41-year-old Clifford Brooks, of Northeast, DC.

The MPD member involved is a 31-year-veteran of the department, a Crisis Intervention Officer, and a member of the Emergency Response Team’s Auxiliary Negotiator Unit. He has been placed on administrative leave, pursuant to MPD policy. The officer activated his body worn camera. Body worn camera footage will be released pursuant to District of Columbia law. https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/mpd-investigating-officer-involved-shooting