THEIR STORIES INSIDE
Profiles of all July homicide victims drawn from interviews with relatives, friends, neighbors and police, as well as information on social media.
Josh Remus Burnett, 15
July 2, 3700 block of W. Rogers Ave., stabbing
Six weeks after Josh Burnett’s death, Robin Johnson wore a T-shirt emblazoned with photos of her and her son, and bearing the words “Me & my baby.” She visits his grave frequently, she said, and she often feels his presence around the house when lights, faucets, or music turn on inexplicably. “I believe in spirits,” she said. Johnson said Josh was a hard worker who washed cars, cut grass with a lawn mower his father bought him and sold water to make money. He also helped others in his spare time, she said.
“Anything they’d ask him to do, he’d help ’em out,” Johnson said.
Nathaniel Wheeler, 31
July 2, 2700 block of Auchentoroly Terrace, shooting
Nathaniel Wheeler was shot multiple times while working on a construction site in West Baltimore the day after his birthday.
Tavon Wheeler said his brother’s death makes him one of just a few men in his family who are not incarcerated or dead.
“I’ve lost a lot to these streets,” he said. “I’ve been shot on these streets; my brother’s been shot on these streets; my father’s died on the street, hit by a car when he was 28; my brother got hit by a car, died when he was 9; my grandfather died in the street to overdose."
Keith Glascoe, 50
July 3, 3400 block of W. Caton Ave., shooting
Everyone on South Kossuth Street in the St. Joseph’s neighborhood in West Baltimore knew Keith Glascoe, according to Kingdom First Ministries Pastor Mark Holland.
Glascoe was always there to help his neighbors, from mowing lawns and maintaining bushes to running errands or just checking up on people, said Holland, who knew Glascoe for more than 15 years.
“He was a community guy,” he said.
Edward Burroughs, 26
July 5, 2000 block of Kennedy Ave., shooting
Edward Burroughs was a devout Muslim who attended a local mosque regularly.
Aisha Robinson, Burroughs’ sister-inlaw who knew him for 14 years, called him “one of the best people I ever met” and said that he always wore a contagious smile.
“He had a wonderful spirit. Nothing could ever keep him down, ever,” Robinson said, adding that as long as his mother was OK, “he was OK.”
Charlotte Francis said that without her son, she feels like a piece of herself is missing.
“It seemed like everything got so bright once I got him,” she said. “My light’s all gone.”
Derwin Jones, 21
July 6, first block of N. Gilmor Ave., shooting
Derwin Jones was shot and killed in the Franklin Square neighborhood of West Baltimore. His family declined to comment for this article.
John F. Davis, 48
July 6, 800 block of Seagull Ave., shooting
Dechonne McNair, 22, said his father, John F. Davis, was a mechanic who was known for being able to fix anything.
McNair said his father could “get along with anybody” and was a good, yet strict, parent to his children — two boys, six girls.
McNair tattooed a cross onto his arm in honor of his father.
Antonio Anderson, 25
July 7, 1500 block of Sherwood Ave., stabbing
On June 19, just weeks before his death, Antonio Anderson posted on Facebook: “Feeling blessed just turned 25 today alot of people dont make to see my age.”
Anderson’s family declined to comment for this article.
Anderson had been shot previously in 2010.
On July 5, just two days before his death, he posted on Facebook: “Thank God for another day.”
Eric Renard Forrester, 41
July 7, 300 block of N. Hilton St., shooting
Eric Forrester, who court records indicate also went by the name Eric Brown, had a string of handgun-related criminal charges. They included a 2002 murder charge for which he was found not guilty.
But his death is not believed related to any of those prior troubles: Homicide unit commander Capt. Donald Bauer said investigators believe he was killed during a robbery at a dice game on a basketball court.
Forrester’s relatives could not be located.
Gerald Thompson, 34
July 7, 900 block of W. Fayette St., shooting
Gerald Thompson was killed in the same quadruple shooting that took the lives of Jacqueline Parker and Lamont Randall. A neighbor said that Thompson’s family moved from their home after he was killed. Attempts to reach the family were unsuccessful.
Jacqueline Parker, 53
July 7, 900 block of W. Fayette St., shooting
Jacqueline Parker, the only woman among the 45 people killed in the city in July, was a grandmother and beloved leader of her family. Karen Parker said her sister was a wild child growing up in the projects, but was also devoutly religious.,adding, “Anything that was going on, she would just tell you, ‘Pray on it. Talk to God about it.’”
Jacqueline Parker, who had several siblings and two children, was the family mediator, her sister said. “Every time our family had a misunderstanding, Jackie would sit down and talk everything out with you. That’s what I really miss.”
Lamont Randall, 39
July 7, 900 block of W. Fayette St., shooting
Nicole Jones-Randall, 37, said her husband was a devoted family man. They shared seven sons and four grandchildren, whom he frequently posted about on Facebook.
His Facebook photos include those of his family and of his tattoos, one of which read “Death before dishonor” across his chest.
Jones-Randall described her husband as outgoing and said he was someone who supported his own.
“He was just a loving, kind, giving person. ... Well-respected,” she said.
Gary Jackson, 21
July 8, 1700 block of W. Lanvale St., shooting
Gary Jackson’s older sister said he had just geaduated from Augusta Fells Instititute of Visual Arts High School and was “loving, caring, happy and respectful." Tionya Jackson said her brother had a 1-year-old son and was a "dedicated father." Police are investigating whether Jackson’s death was drug-related
Darrius Johnson, 19
July 10, 5100 block of Park Heights Ave., shooting
Neighbors who knew Darrius Johnson described him as a Muslim who liked playing basketball and riding dirt bikes. His family declined to comment.
Tyrell Hardy, 22
July 10, 1200 block of N. Woodington Road, shooting
Police are investigating whether Tyrell Hardy’s killing was retaliation for a robbery. Court records show he was arrested on a robbery case and a handgun case. A relative said the family declined to comment for this article.
Dante Barnes, 39
July 11, 2600 block of Boone St., shooting
Just days before Dante Barnes’ death, he gave a talk to his fiancee’s daughter about guns.
“He was telling me sometimes when you make somebody upset and they have a weapon, that’ll be the first thing they get,” said Quisha Wright, 17.
The talk would prove prophetic. Barnes was shot in the head, according to police.
Barnes, who served 14 years in prison for assault and a handgun crime, was on the road to a better path since his release, according to his fiancee, Andrea Young. At the time of his death, she said he was working a janitorial job and had just earned an HVAC certification.
“He had a second chance at life, coming home from prison,” she said.
James Ricardo Smith, 38
July 11, 4300 block of E. Wabash Ave., shooting
The Baltimore Sun was unable to locate any of James Ricardo Smith’s family members for this article.
Gregory Tavon Higgins, 40
July 11, 1800 block of N. Durham St., shooting
Though Gregory Tavon Higgins spent much of the past 20 years in prison, he was like a father to his nephew Myron Higgins, who said he grew up without one. They talked often on the phone, and the nephew visited him in prison.
Gregory Tavon Higgins’ release from prison last year allowed the two of them to grow closer, pursuing music and business ventures together. Myron Higgins raps under the name Sun of Baltimore, and his uncle persuaded him during the Freddie Gray unrest to film a video for an old song that suddenly had new meaning.
The video shows Myron rapping about black power with the uprising as a backdrop. “I’m think I’m Malcolm X/Martin Luther/Comrade George/ Huey Newton … Power to the People/ We ’bout to set it off,” he raps.
Frederick Samuel Taylor, 32
July 12, 2100 block of E. Eager St., shooting
Frederick Samuel Taylor was one of two people shot in a July 12 incident; the other victim, who has not been identified, survived. Taylor spent much of the past 15 years in prison, after being charged with attempted first-degree murder in 2002 and pleading guilty to first-degree assault. Family members could not be located.
Marvin Coston Jr., 28
July 12, 1800 block of E. Federal St., shooting
Marvin Coston Jr. was shot multiple times in the back near where police say he lived. A neighbor said the family moved after Coston was killed, and they could not be reached for comment. Police are investigating whether he was killed in a dispute over a handgun.
Steven Justin Lewis, 31
July 12, 3400 block of Chesterfield Ave., shooting
Tona Burrell, Steven Justin Lewis’ fiancee and girlfriend of 11 years, keeps Lewis’ ashes on a table in her living room. Three weeks after his death, the urn was surrounded by sympathy cards and a bursting bouquet of flowers.
Burrell described Lewis as a caring person and said his generosity transcended his life through organ donation.
“I do know his heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys was donated, so even in death he was still wanting to help someone,” she said.
Burrell said Lewis was a stepfather to her three boys — ages 22, 17, and 16 — and “they loved him.”