Memorial for Raheem "Gunna" Jackson / Congress Street SE

From DC Police reports: On Thursday, April 7, 2011, at approximately 9:25 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the report of a shooting in the 1300 block of Congress Street SE, Washington, DC. Upon arrival on the scene, they found a victim, Raheem Jackson, 16, of SE Washington, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported him to the hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

His nickname was "Gunna." He was a junior at HD Woodson High School, and a star player on their basketball team.

More information on Mr. Jackson is on HomicideWatch.


Sad situation.

Memorial for a Double Homicide - Joshua Ruffin and Reginald Williams / Yuma Street SE

So far as I can acertain, this shrine is to Joshua Ruffin, whose funeral was on the same day as these photographs were taken. I spoke with a distraught and tearful woman at the site who also lost her son to violence. She was too upset to attend the funeral. She said the shrine is exactly where Mr. Ruffin's body lay after he was shot.
From DC Police reports: On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at approximately 11:20 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the report of a shooting in the 700 block of Yuma Street SE, Washington DC. Upon arrival on the scene, they found a male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. They also located another victim in the same area suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. DC Fire and EMS transported the second victim to a local hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. He has been identified as Joshua Ruffin, 20, from SE Washington. The first victim showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead on the scene. He has been identified as Reginald L. Williams Jr. 22, of NE Washington.

For more details, see HomicideWatch.

Police Tape / William Parker / Stanton Road SE

From DC Police reports: On Friday, April 8, 2011, at approximately 8:10 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the report of a shooting in the area of Stanton Road and Elvans Road SE, Washington DC. Upon arrival on the scene, they found an adult male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 2700 block of Stanton Road, SE. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to the hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. The decedent is identified as William Parker, 45, of Capitol Heights, MD.

There have been numerous killings in this neighborhood over the years, but this is the closest I have yet seen to a shrine; and it's just the sad businesslike memento left behind at the scene after the police do their work.

Blessings on Mr. Parker, and peace to his family.

The sign on the pole above the tape points the way to "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" Church.

DC crime tape / Jose Hernandez-Romero

From DC police reports: On Sunday, March 27, 2011, at approximately 2:25 am, members of the Third District responded to the 1200 block of 11th Street, NW Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival on scene, they found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at approximately 5 am. The victim has been identified as Jose Hernandez-Romero, 24, of the 1400 block of N Street, NW.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found the suspect being restrained by witnesses to the shooting. The suspect , identified as Alexis Pineda 24, was arrested and charged with Murder Two While Armed. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

According to other reports, the killing occurred at the now-closed "El Sauce" bar and restaurant. This police crime tape was in the alley behind the main street.


More on Mr. Hernandez-Romero's death is at HomicideWatch.

Flower shrine for Jayna Murray

This large shrine is to Jayna Troxel Murray, 30, of Arlington, VA, who was killed Friday night March 11, 2011 at her workplace, the Lululemon Athletica store, 4856 Bethesda Avenue, in Bethesda, MD.
Initial news sources reported that Ms. Murray and a co-worker were attacked inside the Lululemon Athletica store. First police findings reported that the women had closed the store for the night but returned when one of them forgot something. The surviving co-worker testified that they were then attacked by two men dressed in black wearing masks and gloves. Murray was killed, and the co-worker was beaten, bound and allegedly sexually assaulted. Police found her Saturday morning after another employee arrived to open the store and saw that something was wrong.

The co-worker, Brittany Norwood, 27, has since been arrested and charged with murder, after her story proved to be a fabrication that did not match the evidence gathered by detectives. Investigators initially believed her, giving deference to the victim of a possible sexual assault, but discovered there had been no rape, and that all other evidence pointed to a purposefully falsified set of evidence.

There has been a large outpouring of support for Ms. Murray, who by all accounts was a positive, upstanding, and well-loved person, for her family, and for the community of businesses along Bethesda's normally safe and busy shopping district.

These photographs at the shrine site were made before the arrest of Ms. Norwood.

More information

Facebook memorial

A charitable foundation has been set up by Ms. Murray's family in honor of her life.

Peace. Healing and peace...

Memorial shrine for Selina Knight

This lovingly created memorial honors the memory of Selina Knight.

From a DC police report: 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE. On Friday, March 4, 2011, shortly after 11:50 pm, units from the Sixth District were dispatched to the 3000 block of Nelson Place SE, Washington, DC, to investigate the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, they located an adult female, Selina J. Knight , 36, of Southeast, DC inside a residence, unconscious and with no signs of life, suffering from apparent stab wounds.

On March 9, 2011, Keith Littlepage-El, 49, of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder while armed.

May there be justice and peace... a prayer.

For more information, see HomicideWatch DC.

Teddy bears for Vanessa McGee

From the DC police report and news sources: Vanessa McGee, 36, was fatally shot shortly before 3:25 am on Saturday, March 5, 2011, inside a home on the 4700 block of B Street SE, Washington, DC. Police went to the residence for a report of a shooting, and found McGee suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Ronald G. Pickett, 26, of DC, has been charged in connection with the slaying. He was arrested at about 11:30 am March 5, 2011, and has been charged with Murder 2 while armed.

Poignant... and much strength to her loved ones.

More information is at HomicideWatch DC.

Henry Kelly's memorial, Buena Vista Terrace SE

This shrine is on a stoop on Buena Vista Terrace SE, in Washington DC.

From a police report: On Saturday, March 5, 2011, at approximately 3:30 am, units from the Seventh District were dispatched to the rear alley in the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace SE, Washington DC, to investigate the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Emergency Medical Services determined that the victim, Henry Kelly, 20, of Southeast DC, had no signs consistent with life. He was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

More information at Homicidewatch DC.

A quiet prayer for all concerned.

Candles in memory of Lucki Pannell / Sherman Ave NW

I found these remnants of massed candles from the vigil for this young woman, who lost her life on February 19, 2011.
From the DC police report: On Saturday, February 19, 2011, at approximately 7 pm, units from the Third District were dispatched to Sherman Avenue and Columbia Road NW, Washington DC, to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, three gunshot victims were located. A female victim, Lucki Nancy Pannell, 18, was located in front of a residence in the 3000 block of Sherman Avenue, NW. Two adult male victims were located in the 700 block of Harvard Street, NW. DC Fire and EMS transported all three victims to local hospitals. Ms. Pannell succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that all three victims were shot in the 3000 block of Sherman Avenue NW. The two male surviving victims ran from the scene to the 700 block of Harvard Street NW.

There is more on this sad turn of events at HomicideWatch.com's site:
http://homicidewatch.org/category/victims/lucki-pannell



Another small shrine remnant from 2008 is just a few yards away. See: http://dcshrines.blogspot.com/2008/01/christmas-shrine-to-young-girl.html