Lil Rich RIP - victim of gang violence. Prospect Park Rara - Coney Island

click here for a slideshow. 36-something images

report related to photos
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/28/31_28_bm_blotter_breakout.html
aftermath
http://www.pixxiestails.com/archives/2008/07/shooting_in_williamsburg_brooklyn_7122008.html

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unexpected -
biking to Manhattan
i make a different turn on

south 3rd street @ Havemeyer -

artist Kat is finishing a mural -
a few nights earlier Lil-Rich age 22 was shot in the face
for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

a fight between 2 groups started at the Giglio fest and the commotion
moved south.
Lil Rich walked to see what was happening
and got hit by a bullet shot by a 15 / 16 year old kid.
when he was on the ground they also tried to stab him.

His grieving neighbors said he was a good kid. not a gang kid - not a
drug dealer.

Ernesto a long time resident of South 3rd st told me there is still some
gang activity.

But nothing like 20 years ago when the whole neighborhood was divided
into Puerto Rican, Dominican , Black gangs and you could not go on the
wrong block.

Now there is tension between the kids of South 3rd and those of South 9th.

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Prospect Park

I am tired after having rode all day in the heat to coney island -
Manhattan and so on and having shot the Siren festival for the Voice -

3 Rara bands are playing

The trumpet are made with sheet metal -
each trumped has only one note -
so some musicians old 3 or 4 in different length.

they have some sort of formation when they march.

a lady with a white headbands lights candles and incense
while a band is playing a Petro vodou tune.


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coney island -

siren festival -
it took me longer than expected the stop at the canal street post office.

i have 50 minutes to get to coney island -
it is maybe 95 degrees -
and i get to the siren festival 5 minutes early
i rode as fast as i could in the scorching heat
sometimes i had to look down to let more air flow into my helmet.

i drink half a bottle of water and i pour half of it on my head and neck -
and i am up on stage shooting
the L-Carnitine has been a wonder -
i recuperate fast
i just wish i was wearing swim trunks rather than jeans
and i keep alternating Gatorades and beer
the music
it is better than last year
but Stephen Malkmus is so loud that i cant hear the music.

-
after the show -
wish someone could watch my stuff - and swim in the ocean -
but after all
coney island
the beach
looks like a dump
people leave all sort of trash.
i wonder how can they leave the beach like that.