Pink bears for Derrick Scott; on Parkland Place SE

From a DC police report: On Saturday, July 13, 2013, at approximately 4:29 am, patrol officers from the Seventh District responded to the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Avenue SE, Washington DC, for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. A second shooting victim was located in the 300 block of Parkland Place SE, also suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and EMS transported both shooting victims to area hospitals where they were admitted in critical condition.

The second victim of this shooting, identified as Derrick Scott, 30, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

This modest but colorful memorial was in the front yard of a row house.

There is more information on this situation on HomicideWatch.

On April 22nd, 2015, I found this shrine moved across the street and maintained in Mr. Scott's memory.

In memory of Ernest Hart. Hillside Road SE DC

From a DC police report: On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at approximately 9:21 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 4600 block of Hillside Road SE, Washington DC, for the report of an aggravated assault. Upon arrival, they located a juvenile male suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Ernest Hart, 17, to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

May he rest in peace.

More information is at HomicideWatch.

Memorial shrine for Jerome Peters, Hillcrest Heights, Maryland

From a PG County police report: On June 30, 2013, at approximately 1:15 am, patrol officers were called to the 2900 block of St. Clair Drive, Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, for a shooting. Upon arrival, the patrol officers found Jerome Zephier Peters suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Detectives believe this murder is domestic-related. Peters was at a family member's home caring for his young child. The child's mother and Joshua James Jones arrived to pick up the child when an argument between the two men ensued. During that argument, Jones shot Peters. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned Jones fled to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Members of the PGPD Fugitive Squad traveled there and arrested him on July 9, 2013. Jones faces first degree murder and related charges.

This street shrine to Mr. Peters is outside a quiet apartment complex near Iverson Mall.

Shoes over a wire | 3500 block East Capitol Street SE

From a DC police report: June 22, 2013 at approximately 12:44 am, officers from the Sixth District responded to the 3500 block of East Capitol Street SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Quentin Lavar White, 31, to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Don Page Jr. and Wesley Monroe are being held in connection with this murder.

I found these shoes over a wire near the site of the slaying.

More information on the case can be found at HomicideWatch.

 

The heavens cry. Memorial to Rodney Ellis Gardner, 21st Place SE, Washington DC.

From a DC police report: On Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at approximately 10:20 pm, officers from the Seventh District responded to the 1600 block of 21st Place SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, identified as Rodney Ellis Gardner, 33, to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.  

The residents of the 1600 block of 21st Place SE held a candle-light vigil for Rodney Gardner in front of 1621 21st Place SE, on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00pm. This shrine was built at the vigil, in his memory and honor.

It was raining gently as I documented this memorial.

More on this case is tracked at HomicideWatch.


 

Shrine for Lawrence David Phillips, 400 block of 18th Street NW, DC

From a DC police report: On Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at approximately 9:42 pm, officers from the Fifth District responded to the 400 block of 18th Street NE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, a crime scene was located and further investigation revealed that the victim was transported by citizens to an area hospital. The victim, identified as Lawrence David Phillips, 45, was admitted in critical condition suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, and later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.    

More information on this case is at HomicideWatch.

A close friend of the deceased at Mr. Phillips' shrine site spoke with me for a while. One thing he said stuck with me; "everybody's a little rough, because life is rough."

Truth.

And may peace smooth the rough places...

Street memorial: Candles, a bear, and a festive libation glass for Dontel Price. S Street NE, DC

From a DC Police report: On Saturday, May 18, 2013 at approximately 3:20 am, units from the Fifth District responded to the sound of gunshots report in the Unit block of S Street NE, Washington DC. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and EMS transported the victim identified as Dontel Price, 21, to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.    

More and ongoing information about Mr. Price's case can be viewed on HomicideWatch.

This small and touching memorial is just a half block off of North Capitol Street.



I was told by a helpful citizen that a new and much larger shrine had been built in Mr. Price's honor. I documented this bottle and T-shirt memorial in the 1700 block of Lincoln Road NE, Washington, DC.

It is about one half block from the site of the original memorial.

Street shrine for Alvin Allen Jr. | 3500 block of Stanton Road SE DC

From a DC police report: On Sunday, May 5, 2013, at approximately 2:50 am, officers from the Seventh District responded to the 3400 block of Stanton Road SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located two adult males and one juvenile male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported them to local hospitals where the first victim, identified as Alvin Allen Jr., 21, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, and the second and third victims were treated for their injuries.    

This memorial is in the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE.

There is more and ongoing information about Mr. Allen at HomicideWatch.

Interestingly, there was quite a police presence on this block when I documented this memorial. It consisted of Police Community Resource vans rather than squad cars.

RIP and healing for the family and community.

Sites of three recent shooting deaths in DC

Police crime tape marks the sites where Frederick Booker, Thomas Terrell Jamison, and Nathaniel McRae recently lost their lives to violence. Click on their names to view more detailed information about their cases.

Frederick Brooker, 4100 block of 20th Street NE, Washington DC

Thomas Terrell Jamison, 1200 block of Raum Street NE, Washington DC

Nathaniel McRae, 800 block of Barnaby Street SE, Washington DC

Additional information on all three of these men is available at HomicideWatch, the DC Police website, and the Washington Post.

 

Julian Dawkins' memorial / Lynhaven neighborhood, Alexandria

This street memorial to Julian Dawkins is at the Corner of Lynhaven Drive and Evans Lane in Alexandria, Virginia. There were many members of his family, friends and neighbors gathered around the site, and it is still being added to. I spoke to his aunt, who had been on the phone with Mr. Dawkins when he was shot. From all accounts he was a decent hard-working young man, employed by the PBS News Hour as a shuttle driver.

He was shot on May 21, 2013, in the 100 block of Lynhaven Drive, Alexandria, Virginia.

Note: In the ten years I have been documenting DC metro area street memorials, this is the first one I have encountered and photographed in Alexandria.

May he rest in peace, his family's grief healed, and justice be served.

From an Alexandria Police report:  Based upon the results of the autopsy examination conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the death of Julian Dawkins, 22, has been ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. Mr. Dawkins was shot following a confrontation with off duty Arlington County deputy sheriff Craig Patterson, 44, during the early morning hours of May 21, 2013.

During the course of the investigation, detectives have consulted with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office regarding whether or not criminal charges should be filed. This case is being investigated according to standard protocol applied to all Alexandria homicide cases.

From WJLA TV:
Friends on Thursday gathered at the spot where Julian Dawkins was shot. Meanwhile his family waited a short distance away for word of charges. The victim's family wondered why, a full day after the shooting, Patterson did not face charges.
On the night of the shooting, the Dawkins family gathered at the house to plan a party for cousin Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who had just signed to play with the Mystics of the WNBA.
His uncle says sometime after 9 pm, Dawkins left and just down the street got into an argument with Patterson, who lives nearby. He is adamant that several hours passed between the first altercation and the shooting. The Dawkins say that since Patterson is a law enforcement officer whom they believe must have undergone training in conflict resolution, the shooting is all the more troubling.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney says a decision on whether Patterson is charged or not will be made within 24 to 48 hours.

Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille issued the following statement Thursday evening:

The death of Julian Dawkins, who was shot and killed on May 21, has raised concerns throughout our community. I am confident that appropriate justice will prevail once all facts are known. Our Police Department is investigating this case and they are working with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney using the standard procedure used for such cases in Alexandria. In the meantime, I urge the community to be patient, and allow the justice system to do its work.