Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Victim of Rec Center Shooting Identified
The Washington Post reports on last night's crime meeting in Turkey Thicket and provides a name for the area's recent homicide victim. The man was Melvin R. Seals. He was thirty years old and employed by DPW. He got the job through a transitional employment program and was said to be turning his life around. Mr. Seals was shot multiple times outside Joe Cole Recreation center a little before 2am on Saturday. He died at the scene. An officer was on patrol about a block away at the time the shots were fired.
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28 comments:
Does anyone know if he was a resident of the community? Just wondering how many of the victims/criminals are memebers of the community, or are they outsiders and the crimes just happened in Trinidad.
I must mention it is great to finally see the police out in forces in our neighborhood. It's good to see it last longer than 3 days. The longer they are there I can only imagine the impact it will.
Trinidad Home Owner
It is my understanding that Mr. Beals was not a resident of Trinidad. He may have been at one time, I don't know. I'm told he did work and reside in the District. Apparently he often spent time at the Rec after leaving work.
Thanks Inked... Just figuring that if the victims are not memebers of the community that they had to be in the area for "a specific" reason or visiting someone ecspecially at 2a.m.- which I think should help with investigations on solving these crimes.
I always find it strange when both the killer and victim don't live in the neighborhood. It's not like the crime happened downtown or on a commercial strip where it is common for two random individuals to be. I'm no detective but....hey just my thoughts...
Trinidad Home Owner
The guy that was shot on Maryland Ave was also a DPW worker. Any word on whether that is pure coincidence?
Probably a coincidence, but DPW has some interesting characters working for it. I love to watch them pull up to the liquor store on 11th and H in the A.M. in their uniforms and in their trucks to get their beer and liquor before getting on with their shifts.
It's amazing how so many model citizens are senselessly gunned down in our streets - I'm sure Mr. Seals was on his way home from a late-night meeting of his chess club. His mother was right to confront the mayor on his failure to personally track down the killers over the weekend.
DPW hire these guys from city employment programs, but some of them still do their part-time street thing, the street is mean
All murders and cancer deaths are tragic, but why are all sketchy murder victims "turning their lives around" and all cancer patients "courageous." If I ever get die from cancer, I'm going it insist they print "he died following a lack-luster battle with cancer" or something similar!
Tom - Did you have something like this in mind?
"Loved Ones Recall Local Man's Cowardly Battle With Cancer"
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29585
I second THO's comment about seeing more officers on the street. It's a marked change. Part of me wonders how people continue to get shot w/ so many cops around but then I suspect the answer is that the n'hood would be a free-for-all if they weren't there.
I too have seen DPW employees in uniform actually sitting on a stoop in the 1100 block of H St NE drinking, also there were a few buying "essentials" from a street merchant. Boy are their exchanges slick.
The cops dont matter. One block over is one block too far. I've watched the kids in my neighborhood. They arent even that bad of kids, but they are aggresively nonchalant about the police presence. Police presence can only do so much.
I am seriously wondering if alot of NE DC will start to see degentrification over the next couple of years.
With all the upcoming developments in the area surrounding Trinidad, I don't see how that's possible.
I have to disagree with you dcjaded- cops do matter. The problem is that the police only come around when "something" happens. If they were around more often they'll begin to build relationships with the people in the community.
Since the weather started getting warm, everyday I go home from work, the kids are in the alley playing basketball blocking my drive way. I've spoken to them and told them I don't have any issues with them being there, but there are somethings that I'd like for them to respect. 1) I've provided a trash bag for them to place their trash, 2) No sitting on my cars, 3) Give the drivers right away in the alleys.
They've been nothing but respectful and often engage in conversation with me. I've now formed a relationship with them- and I even go out there and watch them play etc. It's the small things that really matter to these kids and can have a positive impact on the community.
I'd rather see these kids there everyday in my driveway, than for them to be up the street sitting on the corner doing nothing.
Trinidad Home Owner
r.i.p mel!!! I grew up in trinidad. he actually grew up in trinidad. all of you new trinidad homeowners don't know about old trinidad. grew up with him and him working for dpw don't have anything to do with it. you people need to stay in your houses and don't come outside.
Oh lord here we go again. Was that really necessary? I don't think anyone here including myself claim to know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Beals.
I think we can all agree that regardless of where this man work, his death tragic and sad.
We should not stay in our homes, we need to come out even more now and try and put an end to this madness.
Us new folks may not know what the old trinidad was like, but I'm sure the ones that do know- would like to see IMPROVEMENT in their community.
Trinidad Home Owner
to anon 3:03 aka Trinidad home owner.
I dont disagree with you, but police presence in DC essentially means the cops sitting in their cars, rolling slowly down the street and giving the kids the "eye" or active harrassment. The kids and many adults dont see the police as a positive force. In fact, i was talking with a cop the other day about some problems in the neighborhood and he immediately assumed that the people I was talking about "were dealing drugs". It's not correct, but it was his first and only conclusion.
I dont see much happening in any community until the police are able to truly become part of the community that they are policing. When there are entrenched animosity on both sides, its virtually impossible.
Sometimes officers can be insensitive and rude. I've witnessed, and heard of some pretty nasty local accounts. But I'd like to point out that this is not every officer. I recently had a conversation with an officer assigned to Joe Cole and she was great. She was speaking to another resident, as well as to me about the Rec and about the victim of the shooting. She knew him from working her beat. She also remembered me from PSA meetings, and just seeing me out walking around the community. She absolutely seemed to be an officer with a strong interest in the neighborhood and really getting to know the residents. I understand that there are many reasons people have distrust for cops. I have multiple friends of various colors who have at times been assaulted either verbally, or physically by officers [most outside of DC]. But we have a lot of good officers out there. It's important not to forget that. And please, if an officer acts inappropriately, do report him, or her, to the office of police complaints. We need more good officers, but none of us need to deal with unjustified attitude, or violence from officers.
DCJaded said, "I am seriously wondering if alot of NE DC will start to see degentrification over the next couple of years." I hope not, but I'm beginning to wonder the same thing.
I guess there's a lot of folks out there that would love to see NE DC return to the "Good ol' days" of crack, Marion Barry, and one of the highest murder rates in the country.
I'm seeing news on CNN.com's front page that two people have been shot in a DC school. The link doesn't seem to be working though..
From ABC website:
Two students have been shot at a vocational school in Northeast.
The victims, a male and a female, were found outside the Excel Institute, located at 2591 V Street, NE.
According to D.C. Police, a disgruntled student with a gun went inside the school and shot a male student then shot a female student outside the school before carjacking a vehicle and driving to 17th and East Capitol Street, Southeast.
After ditching the vechicle, the suspect attempted to carjack two other vehicles before carjacking a Terminix car.
After a brief pursuit, the suspect was finally apprehended at 19th and C Street SE, but not before hitting a police cruiser, injuring an officer and another car, injuring a pregnant woman.
Both of the students' injuries are considered non-life threatening.
Ugh. Hopefully the pregnant woman will also be ok.
that excel address is wrong. should be 2581 v st. had to google to get the right address because google mpas didn't even list a 2591 v st.
here's a link to the story.
Dear R.I.P Me/Anon 3:26, if you've been in the trinidad all your life, would you be interested in writing a little piece about what the neighborhood was like in the old days? I'd love to post your comments and any pictures you might want to share.
FYI, Rob runs the Trinidad neighborhood site. So this is where he's talking about posting the info. He is not the same guys as Robby, who runs the TrinidadDC listserv.
I live on Morse Street and heard every gunshot that I presume killed Mr. Seal. All I remember is how much I cowered in fear and was so terrified I would not leave my house until one o'clock the next day. I am one proud black woman who is disgusted with some of the careless behavior I have had to witness every day just trying to make my way home. I am tired of the insolent stares from those that think my presence ruins their opportunity to sell drugs within steps from my home. I am tired of being seen as the enemy because I saved my coins and purchased a home with my blood, sweat and tears. I do not look forward to seeing a dead body at the corner. I'll bet my house that whoever killed this man is neither a yuppie, buppie, or "gentrifier". So, let's keep it really real people, step up, shape up or shut up. You love this community then show it.
Wasn't Trinidad the neighborhood known as "Little Saigon" in the late 1980s due to a prevalence of gunplay and violence?
I believe you are thinking of Carver Terrace, which was known as Little Vietnam.
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