Candle Light Vigil for Victim of Police Shooting

Brian Clark, with a photo of his twin brother, Brandon Clark, who was shot by off duty Prince George's County Deputy of Homeland Security Keith Washington, who is also
a Prince George’s County police officer. Brian Clark died from his gunshot injuries.

By Mary Wells
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, February 15, 2007

Tears rolled down the cheeks of Brandon Clark’s twin brother, Brian Clark, 22, as he stood in the cold last Friday night, part of a prayer vigil held in honor of his brother. The vigil was held in the front yard of the family’s home in Capitol Heights.

He held an 8 x 10 photo of his brother, dressed in tuxedo, the night of his prom. Brandon was shot earlier this month when he and Robert White, 36, tried to deliver furniture to the Accokeek home of Keith Washington, a

Prince George’s County policeman, who had been appointed Deputy of Homeland Security for the county, as well. Clark and White were shot and ended up in the hospital. Brandon died.
  
A large group of friends and neighbors, and news media, jostled for space in the small yard of Marilyn Clark, Brandon’s mother, the night before Brandon was to be laid to rest.
  
“Our birthday is coming up in March. We had plans to celebrate our birthday and I had surprises that I hadn’t told him about,” said Brian as he tried to choke back the tears. “He was my best friend. But I’ll see him again some day,” he added, crying. Absent from the vigil were any county officials. “No one’s here, not even from the school,” Brian said. “My brother graduated two years ago from DuVal High School. He was never in any trouble. He was a good person, but nobody cares.”

An out pouring of support was offered last week during a candle light vigil held for Brandon Clark. Clark was shot while delivering furniture to Washington's home in Accokeek. The shooting is under investigation.

Brandon, at 6 feet, 4 inches, had played football at DuVal before he graduated.
  
The Reverend Charles Richburg, godfather to Brandon and Brian, wants answers about the shooting. “We are not mad at anyone, but we do want some answers,” Richburg said. “Something good will come out this. We don’t know what.”

After the crowd sang, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” a woman cried out from the crowd, “His mother tried her best to raise her sons right.

They were never in any trouble. You never saw police coming here looking for her boys. She was a good mother. I’m praying Prince George’s County police will be good Christians and do what’s right.” 
  
Brandon and Brian’s father, Charles Furbish, said, “They were always good kids, never gave any kind of trouble. Brandon played football and was pretty good at it. He graduated and got a job. He tried to make something of his life. He planned to buy a truck to contract to deliver furniture so he could have his own business.”
  
Rev. Richburg lamented the lack of support from any county officials. “Nobody has showed up to say ‘We’re sorry. How can we help you?’ They don’t have to wait to see how it turns out,” he said. “A life has been taken by the police. Does anybody care?”

Shooting victim Brandon Clark’s father joined the vigil.

According to Rev. Richburg, Robert White, co-worker with Brandon, can talk a little and the family hopes he gets well enough to tell what really happened when they tried to deliver furniture from Marlow’s Furniture Store to Washington’s home in Accokeek.
  
“We have not seen White or gone to the hospital, but we know that Brandon was not a violent person. In fact, he was always a peace maker,” he said. “They did not need guns to deliver furniture.”