Jason Liser's shrine

Shrine erected in the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue NE Washington, DC, across the street from a busy Metro station.
On September 11, 2009, Jason Liser, 32, of Bowie, Maryland, was taken to an area hospital after being shot. He died there from multiple wounds. No motives or suspects are known.

There have been several murders in this block; this is the first time I am aware of that a shrine has been erected in this busy area.

A neighbor, Sondra, told me that '"Jay' was good guy, and that his killing makes no sense." He leaves behind a baby daughter.

Shrine to Michael Harris "They Angels have you now"

This shrine is in the 800 block of Hamilton Street NW, Washington DC. It is on a busy intersection across from a school.
The crime was reported on August 31, 2009 about 6:26 PM. Police responded to a shooting report and found
Michael Harris dead in the alley behind the 900 block of Hamilton Street. Three other men were shot in this incident, but were expected to survive their wounds. The crime scene tape with the flowers is at the site of the killing; the shrine is about a block away in a highly visible setting.

A neighbor I spoke with, an older reformed drug dealer, felt the killings in the area were all about drugs and money, though he also believed that sometimes innocents get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He insisted "I'll tell you straight up man, all this is the work of greed - and of the Devil."

Lord knows.



Update: This new material- the red plush toy and ballons - was placed recently at the shrine site. I documented it January 7, 2010.

Spoony's shrine

A weathered shrine to "Spoony," near the corner of 2nd and Gallatin Streets NW, Washington, DC.

I could find nothing on this shrine in police or newspaper online records. A neighbor told me that he and Spoony used to play basketball together, and seemed to imply that Spoony had been shot. Another passerby told me that the shrine was to an accident victim, not a shooting.

100 block Emerson Street NW - unknown person

This tattered shrine to an unknown young man is in the 100 block of Emerson St NW,Washington, DC,just off North Capitol Street. The stick or pole that was holding the plush toysup had either broken by the elements, or removed.

I was directed to this site by one of his friends whom I met at another shrine a few blocks away, but I did not get either of their names. I could find no records in the press or police sites online about this shrine.

Shrine to Cedric Holmes

This shrine to Cedric Nathaniel Holmes, 30, of Bowie, Maryland, is in the 1700 block of Olive Street, in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
Mr. Holmes was found fatally shot near here about six PM on September 15, 2009.

The site is only about fifty yards from the DC line, in a rough-and-tumble industrial area that is being rebuilt.

Joseph Duane Jackson, 31, was arrested on September 24th, and charged with first degree murder in the death of Mr. Holmes.

Abdullah Fuller- in a quiet way

Remnants of crime-scene tape in a quiet well-kept park across from a secluded Franciscan Monastery, near 1300 Perry Street NW, Washington, DC. It is about as tranquil a spot as can be found in DC.
Abdullah Fuller, of Newton Street NE, was found about five AM on September 20, 2009 with at least two gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of Perry Street NE. When police arrived they found the unconscious victim lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was later pronounced dead.

According to the Washington Post "A neighbor called Fuller a “likeable, easygoing husband and father who worked at a grocery store in the District. The killing" he said, “just shocks me.”'

Peace peace peace.

NaNa Boo - shrine to Tyli'a Mack - Q Street NW

In front of 209 Q Street NW, Washington DC, I found this unusual shrine to Joshua Mack.

According to a report in the Washington Blade, police said they found Joshua Mack, who used the name Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack, and another transgender woman suffering from stab wounds about 2:30 pm on August 26, 2009 on the sidewalk in front of 209 Q St NW.

Mack was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Howard University Hospital. The second victim, whom police did not identify, was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive her injuries.

Friends and family members of Tyli'a Mack held a candlelight vigil to commemorate her life on August 28th, at the site of the murder.

Acting Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the DC police's Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, said homicide investigators working on the case listed the incident as a "possible" hate crime.

D.C. Police say the attacker is an unknown man in his early 30s. He was last seen wearing all black and running in the opposite direction on Q Street.

Neighbors say the street is normally a quiet one.

Flowers, a pink piglet toy, and a big red Gumby. And more hearts broken without reason or recourse. Vogue on, wherever you are now Ms. Mack.

Charles Williams AKA Lil Gus

This complex shrine is in the 2300 block of Calvin Woodland Sr. Place SE, Washington DC.
Charles Williams, 19 years old, AKA Lil Gus, was shot multiple times in the head on August 12, 2009 at 12:15 am.

A second man was shot in the leg. Mr Williams was taken to a hospital where he died from his wounds about 3:30 AM. The other shooting victim survived.

Mr. Williams lived in 2600 block of Kethen Street, Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The shrine is actually located in the 3000 block of 24th SE DC, around the corner from where the shooting occurred. No further information was available online. A number of people observed me while making these photographs, and asked a few guarded questions, but nobody spoke to me about either the shrine or Lil Gus.