This following item is from the April 2013 Fifth District Court report distributed by Monica Veney, 5D Community Outreach Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Columbia:

US Attorney’s Office District of Columbia logo

District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed And Other Charges in Shooting That Killed One Teenager And Wounded Another in Northwest Washington

Attack Took Place on Memorial Day of 2011

Eugene A. Kelly, 28, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and related charges for the shooting of two teenagers in Northwest Washington on Memorial Day of 2011.

The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Aug. 6, 2013.

According to the government’s evidence, on May 30, 2011, at about 10:15 p.m., the victims, two 15-year-old boys, were walking home in the 1400 block of New Jersey Avenue NW. As they were walking, Kelly opened fire and shot both teenagers. Isaiah Harris was killed by a single gunshot wound to his body. The surviving victim was shot in the leg.

Just before the shooting, Kelly, who was riding a small trick bike, had stopped to talk to a neighborhood acquaintance. The defendant mentioned his brother’s 2008 murder, and stated his belief that someone from the nearby 5th and O Streets neighborhood was responsible. Kelly announced that someone was going to pay for his brother’s murder, and said that he was going to retrieve a gun. He then retrieved a gun by a nearby dumpster and rode east on P Street toward New Jersey Avenue. Seconds later, the defendant fired multiple times, targeting the two teens.  The victims did not know Kelly and had no knowledge of or involvement in the 2008 murder of his brother. They were simply walking from the area of 5th and O Streets NW.

During a search warrant of the defendant’s home two days later, law enforcement officers found a small trick bike that matched the witnesses’ descriptions of the bike used by the shooter, as well as ammunition consistent with the type used in the murder.

Finally, on Sept. 14, 2011, a guard at the District of Columbia Jail found a note taken from an inmate during a routine morning check. The note, signed by Kelly with his jail identification number, provided a witness’s name and address, and identified members of the witness’s family.  A handwriting expert from the FBI concluded that Kelly wrote the note.

Flower Power 2013

GARDEN walk and reception

Hello Friends and Neighbors!  It is once again time to enjoy the warmth and wonderful plants, flowers, and colors of our nation’s capital.  BACA invites you to beautify your yard and be a part of Flower Power, our annual neighborhood garden walk and reception.  During the WALK, you will view some of the best gardens in our area, as well as the unique styles and architecture of our homes. We invite you VOTE on your favorite front yards, back yards, and tree boxes for each street.  Awards will be provided to the winners.  Aafter the walk, there will be a garden RECEPTION to catch up with old friends and neighbors and meet new ones.  When and Where:  SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2013             3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Neighborhood Garden Walk. Walk will start at the Florida Avenue Park between 1st St and 2nd St NW.  Groups will leave at 3:00 and 3:30.             5:30 p.m. – ??? Garden Reception at 61 P St NW.            Cost:  Tickets are $10.00 each.  They may be purchased online via PayPal, from a Flower Power committee member, or on the day of the event.

For more information or tickets, you may contact:

Christa Fields at 214-450-8492 or christasf@gmail.com,

or any other Flower Power committee member.

Flower Power 2013 Flyer and Nomination Form

Interested in sponsoring the Flower Power Event? You can use PayPal to donate to the cause and receive thanks and recognition at the event! (FP sponsor form)

Speaking of the 52 O Street Studios — see the announcement for the Open Studios event going on this weekend!

52 O Street Open Studios 

Saturday, May 18, 11-5pm

Sunday, May 19, 11-5pm

52 O St NW

Washington, DC 20001

Free and Open to the Public 

Open Studios is a semi-annual event that invites the public into the creative spaces of the renowned artist studios at 52 O Street. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore artists’ work spaces, meet a variety of artists and arts professionals from a range of backgrounds and disciplines, and to see and purchase artists’ most recent works fresh from the site of creation. Since its inception as an affordable artist studio space in 1978, 52 O Street has been an integral part of the DC arts community. The building provides both living space and creative work space to visual artists, musicians, designers, writers, performers, and more.

Conveniently located a short walk from the New York Avenue Station on the Red Line, 52 O Street is just west of North Capitol Street. This year’s Open Studios event features over twenty artists, live performances, letterpress and screenprinting demos, film screenings, food trucks and more.

Participants include: Topher Paterno / Pazzo Verde, Bittersweet Creative, DeNada, Kelly Towles, Cianne Fragione, NativeDanger, Eames Armstrong, Andrew Bucket, Stephen Crouch, Matt Hollis, Caitlin Teal Price, Selena Clare, Matt Costanza, Jeffrey Smith, Tom Bunnell, Mann Designs, SCRAP DC, Dan Treado, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Cadence Archer, Typecase Industries, Jane Claire Remick, Rachel Farbiarz, Emma Jaster, Matt Pearson, Thom Flynn, Monier Barakat, Furthermore, and Scip Barnhart.

For a full schedule of events (as they are announced), please visit: http://52ostreet.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/52OStreet

Twitter: @52_O_Street

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, NCMS held a meeting to elect new Board Members. The newly elected Board will be sworn in at a later date.

 Much gratitude is owed to the exiting Board Members who for many years have volunteered their time, talents and leadership for the improvement of our community. Some of projects lead by the exiting Board included:

1. Annual Art Walk
2. Winter Blues Jazz Festival
3. Store Front Improvement Projects grants for businesses like, Sunset Liquors, Bloomingdale Wine and Spirit, Capital Food Mart, and Windows Café.
4. North Cap Bingo Business Promotion and Beach Party at the Florida Avenue Park
5. Multiple Small Business Workshops

 Thank you to NCMS Board Members for your years of service.

 Congratulations to the newly elected Board Members.

Bradley Thomas

Geovani Bonilla

Robert Oliver

Betsy McDanie

Sylvia Pinkney

Aisha Wilson-Bond

Teri Quinn

Diton Pashej

Angela Jones

Nathaniel Tipton

Donna Broderick

Deadline to apply: May 31, 2013

The  Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation is unique in that it offers  scholarships to single mothers, children who attend alternative schools,  students who have earned a GED, students with grade point averages of  2.0 and students who have previously been incarcerated, etc. but desire a higher educational opportunity. This group is generally not the  recipients of college scholarships and is typically ignored by the Board  of Education.

You are invited to the following event: 2013 Small Business Restaurant Symposium and Expo