Teddy Bear Prayers for Yiana-Michelle Ballard

This tender shrine to Yiana-Michelle Ballard, 6, is at the entrance to the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center NE.

From DC police reports:
At approximately 2:19 pm on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, Fifth District Officers and DC Fire and Emergency Medical Personnel responded to the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center at 1100 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington DC, for the report of an unconscious child in the deep end of a pool.
The child was transported to an area hospital where she was admitted in critical condition. She was subsequently pronounced dead.
The child in this case has been identified as Yiana-Michelle Ballard, 6, of NE Washington, DC.

From news reports:
Police said Thursday that their special-victims unit was still investigating the circumstances of the death. Autopsy results were pending.

“This should have never happened,” said D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5), who chairs the Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation. Thomas plans to hold hearings next week to examine whether the city’s pools are safe. Some parents of children who frequent the center’s camps and other programs said the incident was troubling, especially because at least one lifeguard was there at the time.

Friends and neighbors said Yiana-Michelle was “loving” and a “little angel” who was the youngest of six and about to start first grade.

“She was loved by many people,” said family friend Arnisha Caldwell.

Wings and prayers for this young angel.

Memorial to Ming-Kun Chih and Li-Jen Chih

This shrine to father and son, Ming-Kun Chih and Li-Jen Chih, was erected in front of their now-shuttered store in the busy food and souvenir wholesaling district between New York and Florida Avenues NE. Numerous people commented to me what fine nd well-loved people they had been, and how sad that they had died because a desperate person wanted their earnings - and took their lives also. It is a busy and diverse area, with many small family businesses, and the loss has affected the community greatly.

From DC police reports:
On Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at approximately 3:05 pm, Fifth District Officers responded to the 1200 Block of 5th Street, NE, to investigate the report of a shooting. When police arrived, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim died at the scene. The other victim was transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The apparent motive in this case is robbery of the establishment.
The victim who died at the scene was Li-Jen Chih, 32, of NW Washington, DC. The victim who died at the hospital was Ming-Kun Chih, 59, of Silver Spring, Md.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Christian Taylor, 25, of SW DC, charging him with two counts of First Degree Felony Murder While Armed in connection with the shooting deaths of the Chih's.

Shrine for Calvin Godsey

From DC police reports:
Thursday, June 17, 2010, at approximately 1:00 pm, members of the Fifth District responded to the 2100 Block of 3rd Street NE, Washington DC, to investigate the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they found an unconscious subject suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The decedent was identified as Calvin Godsey, 38, of the 2100 Block of 3rd Street, NE, Washington, DC.
On Friday, June 18, 2010, an adult male suspect was arrested in this case. Subsequently on Friday, June 25, 2010 at approximately 3 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Leon Truesdale, 36, charging him with Felony Murder While Armed in Mr. Godsey's death.

Mr. Godsey appears to have been loved very much by his people.

Peace, please peace.

Brandon McClanahan: site of his passage from this world

From DC police reports:
On Saturday, June 26, 2010, at approximately 1:43 am, Fifth District officers and DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the vicinity of the 1800 block of M Street NE, Washington, DC, for the report of a shooting. The officers located an adult male shooting victim in an alley near the 1200 block of 19th Street, NE. The victim was determined to have no signs of life and was later officially pronounced dead on the scene.
The decedent has been identified as Brandon McClanahan, 24, of Temple Hills, Maryland.

Shrine for Prabhjot "Roger" Singh; Benning Road NE

This memorial was built by the community and neighbors of Prabhjot "Roger" Singh, in the front of his check-cashing store in the 2500 block of Benning Road NE, Washington DC.

Singh, 30, was shot and killed, and his father, known as "Pops" in the community, was severely beaten during a robbery attempt about 10:45 am Thursday June 17, 2010. Mr. Singh was a relative of the store's owner. Two men were seen fleeing the area; one may have had a mask.

People I spoke to at the shrine site were very upset. Mr. Singh was beloved to them, and they said helped them out, was friendly, kind, and respectful.

Memorial to Antoine Buckner

A memorial to Antoine Buckner, 32, was built in the 600 block of 46th Place NE, Washington DC.
On May 30 2010 at 10:25 pm, police were sent to investigate the sounds of gunshots in the 600 block of 46th Place NE. Officers responded to the scene and found a male victim, Antoine Buckner, lying unconscious on the concrete, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. On June 3, 2010 he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Neighbors told me that the shrine was initially "very large and beautiful." The burn marks were caused by a candle left by a loved one that tipped over and sparked a fire.

Jermaine Jones- Trinidad Avenue

This memorial to Jermaine Jones, who perished at the age of 36, is in the 1700 block of Trinidad Avenue NE, Washington DC, an area that has been greatly wracked by violence over the past few years.
On June 7, 2010 police investigated a report of a stabbing, and found an unconscious male victim in this block. He was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead. A preliminary report revealed that the stabbing occurred nearby, in the 1200 block of Simms Place NE.

Mr. Jones had lived in the 2000 block of Alabama Avenue SE.