Dawson murder case
| Dawson Family murder | |
|---|---|
| Location | Oliver, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Date | October 16, 2002 |
| Target | Dawson family |
Attack type | Arson |
| Weapons | Firebomb |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Perpetrator | Darrell L. Brooks |
| Motive | Retaliation for Angela Dawson reporting crime to police |
The Dawson family, a family of seven (parents Carnell and Angela, and five children), were all murdered in
After repeated vandalism of their home, the Dawsons survived a first arson attempt on October 3, 2002, only to succumb to the second.[3] The outcry over the magnitude of the crime was only matched by the frustration expressed by many residents who simply could not believe that city officials, who were aware of the escalating violence, had been unable to protect the family. City officials defended their actions, saying an offer to relocate the family was refused.
The tragedy underscored the failure in attempts to encourage residents of Baltimore to stand up to drug dealing and of the city to provide protection to those who did. In 2005, relatives of the Dawson family filed suit against the city, state and various agencies. They alleged that despite the launch of the "Believe Campaign" in 2002 (which encouraged residents to supply information about drug dealers) there were insufficient resources to protect witnesses who did come forward.
Numerous efforts to reclaim and rebuild Oliver in the name of the Dawson family have been undertaken by politicians, activists and ordinary citizens. Mayor (and later
References
- ^ Jeffrey Gettleman (September 2, 2003). "In Baltimore, Slogan Collides With Reality". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Jeffrey Gettleman (October 20, 2002). "Suspect Left Unsupervised". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ "Fire Kills Mother and Children at Home". The New York Times. October 17, 2002. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Lawrence Hurley (February 18, 2005). "Survivors of Baltimore drug dealer attack sue for $14M, better". The Daily Record. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Sumathi Reddy (June 1, 2006). "Suit in firebombing is dismissed". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ "Dawson lawsuit ruling is upheld". The Baltimore Sun. April 13, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Melody Simmons (April 8, 2007). "Home Where Family Died Is Now Safe Haven". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
External links
- 10 years after Dawson killings, uneven results in Oliver, The Baltimore Sun, October 13, 2012