Two shrines in memory of Tyrell Fogle

From a DC police report: At 10:34 p.m. Monday, Fifth District police heard gunshots in the 1900 block of Bennett Place NE, Washington DC, and then saw a man being chased and shot multiple times at by a masked man with a gun. The victim, identified as Tyrell Fogle, 17, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and collapsed in the 1900 block of Bennett Place NE. DC Fire and EMS transported Mr. Fogle to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. Officers chased the armed masked man and arrested him in the 700 block of 21st Street, NE. Anthony Hatton, 18, of Southeast Washington, DC, is charged with murder while armed.

One large shrine, with an exceptional amount of testimony written on the sidewalk, was set up by his loved ones at the site of his death on Bennett Place NE. Another large shrine, in the 300 block of 18th Place NE DC, was created during a vigil near the home he grew up in. His vigil was held on what would have been his 18th birthday.

These photographs are from both sites.

According to a neighbor I spoke to on Bennett Place, young Mr. Fogle was shot several times- she thought she had heard multiple gunshots. Another person also told me that his girlfriend is pregnant with his child, and speculated that she "must be devastated."

According to neighbors and friends, he was a positive kid, involved in sports- a very handsome young man, likely shot in a dispute regarding jealousy and a romantic situation.

T-shirts were made in his honor and memory.

May he rest in peace, his family know peace, and justice flow.

More details on HomicideWatch.

Memorial for Wyatt Earp Robinson

This small memorial to Wyatt Earp Robinson is on a busy corner of Minnesota Avenue NE, next to a seafood store and a MacDonalds.

From a DC Police report: On Sunday, August 21, 2011, at approximately 6:55 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue NE, Washington DC, to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male lying on the sidewalk, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. Subsequently, the victim, Wyatt Earp Robinson, 33, was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Ricardo Mitchell, 32, of Temple Hills MD, has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Wyatt Earp Robinson.

From HomicideWatch: A DC police officer "romantically linked" to Ricardo Mitchell could face criminal charges connected with the murder of Wyatt Earp Robinson, Paul Wagner from MyFoxDC reports. Law enforcement sources say the officer, who is assigned to the Second District, first told investigators she had not witnessed the crime. Then, upon further questioning she changed her story. Admitting she was in the 3900 block of Clay Place NE when detectives say Ricardo Mitchell, 32, shot and killed Wyatt Robinson. The officer, who sources say is a veteran with at least 10 years of service, has had her police powers revoked. She could face obstruction of justice and or accessory after the fact charges.

Dominic Dixon- reward poster

From a DC police report: On Sunday, August 28, 2011, at approximately 7:38 pm, units from the First District responded to the 200 block of N Street NW, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, Dominic Dixon, 21, to the hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. A second adult victim was located in the area of 4th and M Streets NW suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
From HomicideWatch: “I was at the basketball court on N street across from Dunbar yesterday evening. Not even five minutes after leaving and entering my house, I heard sirens, saw flashing lights and the helicopter above. From what the neighbors are saying, two young people were shot near the basketball court, with one not surviving."

Memorial for Christopher Emanuel Freeman | 300 block of 34th Street SE

From DC police reports: On Friday August 5, 2011, at approximately 3:00 am, units from the Sixth District responded to the 300 block of 34th Street SE, Washington DC, to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male in the alley suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim, Christopher Emanuel Freeman, 28, had no signs consistent with life. A second victim was also wounded and transported to an area hospital.

On Thursday, August 11, 2011 at approximately 4:30 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested James Fields, 31, of no fixed address, charging him with Second Degree Murder while Armed.

I have photographed several street shrines in this neighborhood. I was questioned today very warily by a passerby, who eased up when I explained what my purposes were.

I pray justice and peace are served in this unhappy situation.

More information is at HomicideWatch.

Double homicide- Patricia Mercer-Harris & Frank Harris Jr | Ft. Washington MD

From a PG County police report: On August 4, 2011, at approximately 4:37 a.m. Prince George's County patrol officers responded to 11800 block of Hickory Drive, Fort Washington, Maryland for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of Patricia Mercer-Harris, 56, and Frank Arthur Harris Jr., 20, inside the residence. Both victims were found shot and pronounced deceased on the scene.

An intensive investigation is ongoing.

I found these candle drippings left in memorial at the front of the residence, which is in a quiet, leafy suburban neighborhood.

Sad.

More information at GoryPG.

Dwight Gaiter - crime scene tape/56th Street NE

From DC police reports:On Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at approximately 12:15 am, units from the Sixth District responded to the 400 block of 56th Street NE, Washington DC, to investigate the report of a stabbing. They found a male victim suffering from an apparent stab wound. Personnel from the DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, Dwight Gaiter, 26, to an area hospital where he was being treated for his injuries. On August 10, 2011 at approximately 6:30 pm., the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

I found it especially sad to see that the mailbox at the house was stuffed full; no one was there to get the mail anymore.

RIP.

More information at HomicideWatch.

RIP Jasmine Jerona Banks

There are a few remnants of a large candle-lit vigil for Jasmine Banks outside the now shuttered MSG club, located in a strip mall in Capitol Heights.

From a PG police report: On August 8, 2011, at approximately 2:44 am., patrol officers responded to the 7900 block of Central Avenue, Capitol Heights, Maryland, for the report of a shooting, outside the MSG nightclub. When the officers arrived, they found Jasmine Jerona Banks, 20, of District Heights, Maryland, and another male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Banks was transported to a local hospital where she was admitted in critical condition. She was pronounced deceased the next afternoon as a result from her injuries. The male victim was also transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

I have been to this site on a couple of previous occasions when murders had occurred in the vicinity, though had never previously found any memorials built at the site, which is on a busy commercial property.

Prince Georges County authorities have now ordered the club closed for several violations.

Considerably more information is at GoryPG.

Prayers for this young woman and her loved ones.

Osman Al-Akbar | 2600 block of University Place, NW

This crime scene tape is at the site where Osman Al-Akbar was slain. As the crime had just occurred the day prior to my site visit, no memorial had yet arisen.

Peace be upon you, Mr. Al-Akbar.

From DC police sources: On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at approximately 1:39 am, units from the Third District responded to the 2600 block of University Place NW, Washington DC, to investigate the report of sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim, Osman Al-Akbar, 19, had no signs consistent with life, and was pronounced later dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Shortly after the shooting, Third District officers stopped two suspects in connection with the homicide. After further investigation by detectives from the Homicide Branch, Rashid Caviness-Bey, 19, of Northwest and a 15-year old male of Capitol Heights, MD, were charged with First Degree Felony Murder while Armed and Carrying a Pistol Without a license (CPWL).

For more information see HomicideWatch.

Memorial for Myles LeShai McLean / 61st & Dix Streets NE

From a DC Police report: On Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at approximately 4:26 am, members of the Sixth District responded to the report of a shooting in the 6100 block of Dix Street NE, Washington DC. Upon arrival on the scene, they found Myles LaShay Mclean, 23, of NE Washington DC, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where the victim was pronounced dead.

Myles LaShai McLean was a 23-year-old transgender woman, and the murder is being investigated as a hate crime, according to the city officials. Metro Weekly reports Ms. McLean's vigil was organized by Earline Budd of Transgender Health Empowerment and Ruby Corado with the DC Trans Coalition.

''This is just to remember Lashai,'' Corado says of this vigil and others, ''to show that we care, that we love them, that their life matters. We usually don't want to make it a political event, but it turns out that way because this happens too many times." and ''we also want to bring attention to the fact that most crimes against transgender people don't find justice.''

An extensive and moving report on the situation is in the Blade.

May justice and peace come to Ms. McLean, her friends, supporters, and family.

Further information is at HomicideWatch.

Update: According to WAMU, the original shrine was burned in what is being investigated as a bias crime.

On September 17th, I visited the site, and found the memorial had been rebuilt.

David Eduardo Gonzalez's shrine in the 900 block of Randolph Stret NW

From a DC police report: On Tuesday July 19, 2011, at approximately 3:08 am, Units from the Fourth District responded to the 900 block of Randolph Street NW, Washington DC, to investigate the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they observed a male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. The victim, David Eduardo Gonzalez , 23, of Northwest DC, was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and was pronounced dead.

Though I have no further information on Mr. Gonzalez, but a red neckerchief is usually a sign of the Bloods.

A young woman passerby at this street memorial shook her head sadly, and commented "it never stops, does it."

I pray that it does someday, and in our time.

More on Mr. Gonzales is at HomicideWatch.