Washington, D.C
2 teen girls go to trial for beating death of 64-year old DC man with disabilities
Two teenage girls went to trial for second-degree murder Thursday, accused of randomly beating a D.C. man with disabilities to death last fall.
Reggie Brown, 64, was taking a walk on Georgia Avenue in October when a group of five girls allegedly attacked him unprovoked, prosecutors said in opening statements.
One of those girls took cellphone video of the attack in which the group appeared to be in a celebratory mood afterward, according to prosecutors.
Brown faced health issues for much of his life, weighing just 110 pounds and missing six fingers due to lupus. He also was battling cancer and liked to take long walks at night, according to his family.
On Oct. 17, a still unidentified man attacked Brown, as seen on surveillance video.
Five girls, ages 12 to 15, joined the attack, prosecutors say. Surveillance video showed them stomping Brown’s head into the pavement and whipping him with his own belt.
He died shortly afterward.
In court Thursday, the defense for one of the girls argued she was not involved in the attack and wasn’t even there. Her defense said the case was based on “unreliable, untrustworthy evidence and grainy video” because police were “under serious pressure to solve this case.”
The defense for the other girl argued, “Not every death is a murder or homicide,” and said the evidence does not show an intent to kill or seriously injure.
Brown’s sister said it’s been heartbreaking to hear what her brother went through.
“We’re here because we want to ensure that justice be done and that this doesn’t happen to any other family,” Malda Brown said.
“Everybody up in D.C., upper Northwest, knew my little brother, and he was just a good soul,” she said. “And for something like this to happen to him is just hurting the whole neighborhood up in D.C.”
She wishes the two girls could have been tried as adults and feels D.C. needs tougher laws when it comes to juvenile crime.
“These young people are committing crimes knowingly that if you commit crimes while you are a juvenile, that nothing is gonna happen,” she said. “That is the word on the street that they say, Oh, we can commit crimes because nothing is gonna happen to us.”
A third girl in the case pleaded guilty to assault last month. The other two girls are scheduled to go on trial in November.
If any of the four girls being tried are convicted, they will remain in the custody of D.C.’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services until they turn 21.
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Washington, D.C
A preview of the new World War I Memorial in DC — and why it’ll hit you hard – WTOP News
WTOP got a preview of the new World War I Memorial in D.C. ahead of its opening next weekend. See photos.
The finishing touches are being put on the new World War I Memorial in D.C. It’s a three-acre site sitting right along Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Freedom Plaza.
On Friday, WTOP got a preview of the new memorial ahead of its opening next weekend.
The centerpiece is a 60-foot wall of sculptures, 38 in total, which aims to tell a story from the start of the war all the way to the end. It took sculptor Sabin Howard about four and a half years to make it.
“The story is of a soldier, a dad, in an allegory for the United States where he leaves home, enters into battle,” said Howard. “From that horrible experience, he’s transformed, shellshocked, and then he returns home to hand his daughter, the next generation, the helmet. And she is World War II.”
What stands out the most is the vivid detail given to each soldier’s face. Anyone looking at it can see the emotion — whether it’s fear, despair or pain. The dirt, sweat and tears are all there to behold.
“We spent an average of 650 hours on each one of these figures, working from a life model. And a lot of those models from the middle to the end of the sculpture are veterans from the Marine Corps, Navy SEAL and Army Rangers, and so their faces had all seen PTSD,” said Howard.
“And that kind of changes the whole thing because, now all of a sudden, you’re sculpting real people … You’re actually learning from them what it’s like to go into war and then leave your family and come back completely changed,” he added.
Howard used words like energy and power to describe some of the sculptures, arguing that “emotion is movement” as he stood in front of the wall.
“This is (a) symphony happening behind me, where you go from quiet to like maximum animalistic energy, to a primal scream, and then all of a sudden quiet,” said Howard. “Where you go to cost of war, where it’s dead silent. It’s actually death. And then from that moment of being shell shocked, you go into a parade scene home, which is this sense of energy being turned on again. And then the final scene, the brakes get put on, where it’s really quiet, where the dad returns home, he’s changed. He’s awkward when he hands his daughter the helmet, she’s completely still, and the weight on her neck, it’s heavy.”
He added, “It’s not like a ‘Yahoo!’ moment. It’s like when you send people to war, they come back, they are not who they were when they left. And that needs to be recognized.”
Organizers behind the memorial spent the last 16 years getting to this day.
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“World War I is largely forgotten in our country, and it was the most consequential event of the 20th century that led to the other wars that are commemorated on the National Mall,” said Edwin Fountain, the vice chair of the World War I Centennial Commission.
“It’s also important because the scale of sacrifice in World War I of American forces is largely unknown. We lost more American soldiers in World War I than we lost in Korea and Vietnam combined. … And so the significance of that war, the character of American service and accomplishments … needs to be commemorated by a national memorial,” he added.
Those who are behind it feel that the location — between 14th and 15th streets Northwest, right across Pennsylvania Avenue from the Willard Hotel — actually provides a better home for the memorial than the National Mall does.
Besides the proximity to so many downtown hotels and attractions, the amount of space it provided to honor those who served in World War I is much bigger than what the National Mall can provide. The memorial site includes a seating area, a wall with a series of quotes and maps related to the war, and a rehabbed Gen. John J. Pershing Memorial.
It’s also where the World War I homecoming parade crossed in the 20th century.
“I just want people to leave and be interested in World War I, and want to ask questions and want to know more,” said Joe Weishaar, the lead designer for the entire memorial. “It’s the war that changed the world in so many ways, and it’s such a valuable piece of history to really wrap your head around.”
But anyone who visits will be drawn to the centerpiece sculpture, and many will find it hard to take their eyes off it.
“Oftentimes, war memorials aggrandize what happened to cover up tracks,” said Howard, the sculptor. “I didn’t do that. I made something to elevate human beings and bring them forward as the primary subject of a war memorial. It’s not about the governments or the elites. It’s about the ordinary people that are caught into the vortex of having to go to war.”
“If you look at this, this is a memorial to humanity, not to war. It is, yes, the national World War I Memorial, but humanity is what the primary concern and interest of this project is.”
The first illumination ceremony for the memorial will take place at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13. Several other activities are set to take place Sept. 14 and 15, including live musical performances and historical presentations, as well as authentic World War I vehicles from the National WWI Mobile Museum.
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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
A candlelit vigil was held Friday by Black Lives Matter and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, to remember Justin Robinson, who was fatally shot by D.C. police.
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A candlelit vigil was held Friday evening by Black Lives Matter and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, to remember 26-year-old Justin Robinson, who was fatally shot by D.C. police last Sunday.
Chants of “Justice for Justin!” were shouted out as hundreds of mourners returned to the scene where the shooting took place: the McDonald’s on Marion Barry Avenue in Southeast D.C.
A sea of people, balloons and lit candles could be seen for hundreds of yards, as D.C. police blocked off the street to let demonstrators conduct the vigil peacefully.
Speakers that included Justin Robinson’s family and community organizers said he was taken too soon.
“Our team and our community has been broken by this,” one speaker said. “Broken! And there’s no way to bring this young man back.”
Police responded after Robinson crashed his car into the side of the McDonald’s around 5:30 a.m. last Sunday. The police department said officers found Robinson unresponsive in the car, with a firearm in his lap.
After some time, officers said Robinson was moving around in the vehicle with the gun. He was shot after being told repeatedly by officers to drop the weapon, and even grabbing at the gun of another D.C. police officer when he was approached.
Robinson worked at the D.C. Attorney General’s Office in their “Cure the Streets” violence interruption program.
Many speakers Friday evening talked about how he made it his business to de-escalate violent situations and preach peace.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and body cam footage may still be released. The officers who fired at Robinson have been placed on administrative leave.
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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Magic Johnson visits Ida B Wells Middle School in DC
Basketball legend Magic Johnson visited Ida B. Wells Middle School in Northeast one day after he officially joined the Washington Spirit’s investor group. FOX 5’s Chad Ricardo caught up with Magic to discuss.
WASHINGTON – Basketball legend Magic Johnson visited Ida B. Wells Middle School in Northwest D.C. Friday, a day after it was announced that he officially joined the Washington Spirit investor group.
During his visit, Johnson spoke with FOX 5’s Chad Ricardo about his excitement in becoming part of the organization.
“First, you know, Michele [Kang] has built a great organization, and I was just so delighted she allowed me to be a partner of hers,” Johnson said. “The Spirit is doing very well. We had, what, four Olympians who brought back the gold medal. This is a well-run, first-class organization, but that’s the way Michele does it.”
Johnson emphasized the importance of supporting young female athletes both on and off the field.
“We want to encourage these young ladies to learn soccer and be good at it, but also do good in school too,” he added. “I believe in partnering with people who believe in winning on the field and in the community too.”
He expressed his enthusiasm for the future of women’s sports, saying, “I’m excited about what we’re going to build in women’s sports and women’s soccer at the same time.”
Johnson’s involvement in the Washington Spirit marks a new chapter for the team, which represents D.C. on and off the field. He is also a member of the Washington Commanders ownership group.
Magic Johnson talks with students at DC Boys and Girls Club
Magic Johnson linked up with the Commanders foundation for an event at the Boys and girls club in Northeast.
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