Rodney Ellis Gardner | Homicide Watch DC

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in Case Against Kevin Brown

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:03:42 -0400

Judge Ronna Beck found substantial probability Friday that Kevin Brown participated in the shooting death of 19-year-old James Edward Dean.

Dean died February 10 after being found shot in front of an apartment complex on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace Southeast, according to police.

At the preliminary hearing Friday, Detective Hosam Nasr testified that on the evening of Feb. 10, video footage captured a black SUV parking in front of apartment building 3149 Buena Vista Terrace Southeast.

According to the video, seconds after the SUV was parked, a man exited from the passenger seat and sprinted toward the apartment building. The video shows Dean walking past that same building when the man runs toward Dean from behind and begins to shoot. Dean is seen turning around and attempting to dodge the attack before he collapses. The shooter escapes in the black SUV parked several feet away.

Detective Nasr said the getaway car was owned by Brown's friend, who prosecutors identified in open court as Rodney Gardner.

Arrest documents say Gardner, also known as W-4, originally denied knowing anything about the murder, but days after the shooting he named Brown as the man who shot Dean.

According to prosecutors, Gardner told police that he had been smoking marijuana the day of the shooting and that Brown had met him at his house on 21st Place Southeast.

Detective Nasr said that Gardner told police that he drove Brown to Buena Vista Terrace because he thought Brown was going to buy marijuana. He also said he drove Brown away from Buena Vista Terrace after the shooting.

Nasr said Gardner told police that Brown never contacted or talked to him again.

Gardner was killed earlier this month.

On June 5 at approximately 10:20 p.m., Gardner was found suffering from gunshot wounds in his car parked in front of his house on the 1600 block of 21st Place Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Brown was arrested in connection with the Dean case two days later, on June 7. He is next expected in court Oct. 25 for a status hearing.

Washington's Other Monuments: Rodney Gardner, Lawrence Phillips

Penny Ray — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 13:17:09 -0400

Washington's Other Monuments has published more photographs of street shrines dedicated to some of this year's homicide victims.

Lloyd Wolf, the photographer who took these pictures, said that this memorial for 33-year-old Rodney Ellis Gardner was built during a candlelight vigil. It rained gently that day, he said. Gardner was gunned down in the 1600 block of 21st Place Southeast June 5.

This shrine for Lawrence David Phillips is located in the 400 block of 18th Street Northeast, where he was shot June 11. Phillips later died at the hospital.

View other street shrines and memorials at DC Shrines.

Comment of the Day: "I will miss your smile and your sense of humor"

Penny Ray — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:55:27 -0400

Shelly left this Comment of the Day in memory of Rodney Ellis Gardner who was shot and killed in the 1600 block of 21st Place Southeast on June 5:

Rip Rodney you will truelly be missed I will miss your smile and your sense of humor as well as our school times together you will never be forgotten I love u always Love Shelly!!

Comment of the Day: Vigil for Rodney Ellis Gardner Tonight

Laura Amico — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:37:07 -0400

This Comment of the Day in memory of Rodney Ellis Gardner comes from 21st Place SE:

The Resident’s of the 1600 block of 21st Place SE, will be holding a candle light vigil for Rodney in front of 1621 21st Place SE, Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00pm.

Man Killed in Southeast DC Wednesday Identified as Rodney Ellis Gardner

Penny Ray — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:56:57 -0400

A man who was shot and killed in Southeast DC Wednesday has been identified as 33-year-old Rodney Ellis Gardner.

Police found Gardner in the 1600 block of 21st Place SE suffering from gunshot wounds around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Gardner is one of two men fatally shot overnight.

A press release from MPD is below.

Homicide: 1600 Block of 21st Place, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting which occurred in the 1600 block of 21st Place, Southeast.

On Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at approximately 10:20 pm, officers from the Seventh District responded to the 1600 block of 21st Place, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 33 year-old Rodney Ellis Gardner of Northeast, Washington, DC.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411

SE DC Shooting Leaves One Dead

Laura Amico — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:03:52 -0400

Police found a man with multiple gunshot wounds in the street in Southeast DC Wednesday evening; he was the first of what would be two violent deaths overnight.

WUSA reports that police responded to the 1600 block of 21st Street SE for a report of a shooting shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Reports WUSA:

That is where they found a man lying in the street suffering from multiple gun shot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died shortly after arrival.

A lookout was issued for a black male, six feet tall, medium complexion, wearing cornrows, a baseball cap and dark clothing.