UPDATE AGAIN: Touching

While I normally would understand that some folks might have to grieve in their own way about a lost friend soldier  (apparently he threatened someone with a gun on Mother's Day), it would be nice that loved ones would understand the ramifications on the community when a shooting occurs near a school.

So, it is with mixed emotions for the bereaved as well as the community that I'm posting this and hoping that those putting up this memorial please stop with the obscenities. Do we really need our youngsters, who are already trying to understand why they were ushered into lockdown amid a murder, need to see F bombs on a poster, let alone wonder what 7th St. Bangers are? As I said, I understand that some grieve in their own way.. I'm just pointing out that there might be a better place than the street near an elementary school to post "Fat F*#$ing Dre" signs.

And what exactly are the 7th St. Bangers?

UPDATE: Man arrested in Morris Place Shooting

UPDATE UPDATE:  Washpo has more news about the whole mess

Dcist is reporting that the police arrested a man in the shooting last Friday near Ludlow Taylor Elementary. The neighborhood can sleep a bit easier, and I'm happy to see that the police have pledged to keep up the extra presence in the community. According to Commander Brown of the MPD:

This incident has raised valid concerns in the community and Ludlow Taylor School which is adjacent to the offense location.  I would like to assure all that the additional resources I have allocated for this area will not diminish with the closure of this case. 

I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief that they caught the alleged murderer and hats off to the police for acting quickly.

Commander Brown's full letter to the community:

Good afternoon,

As you are already aware, on Friday, April 25, 2014, a homicide occurred in the 600 block of Morris Place, Northeast.  Members of the Homicide Branch conducted an investigation and were able to obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect.  It is anticipated this individual will be in custody in the near future.

This incident has raised valid concerns in the community and Ludlow Taylor School which is adjacent to the offense location.  I would like to assure all that the additional resources I have allocated for this area will not diminish with the closure of this case.

Once finalized, I will provide the date for the PSA 104 community meeting.

Thank you.

Commander Jeff Brown

First District

101 M St SW

Washington DC 20024

Shooting on Morris Place near Ludlow Taylor Elem

There's nothing quite like waking up from a nap after hearing 5 sharp pops.. I didn't hear anyone scream so figured it was something from the school or construction. Apparently, it was gunshots and a man died. I saw a large African American man getting carted off.

I walked over there and they had found some shell casings, so hopefully they find who did it. The victim had what appeared to be a bullet hole in his head.. although it looked like it exited at the top of his head, which is a bit odd.

The block is usually really quiet, so it will be interesting to see what happened. Here's the crime scene.