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Hit-and-run victim was a father of four from Northeast Washington Hit-and-run victim was a father of four from Northeast Washington
(about 4 hours later)
Around 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Ian Jerome Butts of Northeast Washington telephoned his father, who was working a shift as a driver at a local bakery. About 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Ian Jerome Butts of Northeast Washington telephoned his father, who was working a shift as a driver at a local bakery.
“He had called to wish me a happy new year, and he told me that he loved me and I told him that I loved him,” said Rev. Henry Lockamy, 63. “That was the last time I heard from him.” “He had called to wish me a happy new year, and he told me that he loved me and I told him that I loved him,” said the Rev. Henry Lockamy, 63. “That was the last time I heard from him.”
Two hours later, Lockamy heard a knock on his front door in Northeast. Police told him Butts, a 36-year-old father of four young children, had been struck and killed in a Southeast Washington crosswalk. Two hours later, Lockamy heard a knock on his front door. Police told him that Butts, a 36-year-old father of four young children, had been struck and killed in a Southeast Washington crosswalk by a driver who fled.
The death left fatherless a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and 5-year-old twins, Lockamy said. And it shook a religious family to its core, said Lockamy, an assistant pastor at God’s Shepherds for Salvation Church in Northeast. The death left a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and 5-year-old twins without a father, Lockamy said. And it shook a religious family to its core, said the assistant pastor at God’s Shepherds for Salvation Church in Northeast Washington.
“I’m numb. I’m numb,” Lockamy said Saturday. “If they have a conscience, and I’m pretty sure everybody have a conscience, they’re gonna turn theirself in.”“I’m numb. I’m numb,” Lockamy said Saturday. “If they have a conscience, and I’m pretty sure everybody have a conscience, they’re gonna turn theirself in.”
Police said Butts’s body was found along the 3500 block of Minnesota Avenue SE about 4:10 a.m. Friday, near the intersection with C Street. Authorities believe the incident was a hit-and-run. They say Butts was in a crosswalk when he was struck. The driver, police said, fled in a blue or black Chevrolet Equinox that may be damaged. Police said Butts’s body was found along the 3500 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, near C Street, about 4:10 a.m. Friday. Authorities say Butts was in a crosswalk when he was struck. The driver, police said, fled in a blue or black Chevrolet Equinox that may be damaged.
[Man fatally struck by hit-and-run driver][Man fatally struck by hit-and-run driver]
Lockamy said the children were in disbelief.Lockamy said the children were in disbelief.
“They keep on asking for their father,” Lockamy said. “We told them that their father was going up in the clouds, but they want to speak to him.”“They keep on asking for their father,” Lockamy said. “We told them that their father was going up in the clouds, but they want to speak to him.”
Butts’s widow, Tjamanquie Moody, said her husband had been celebrating the holiday that night with his brother and a few friends. Shortly after 1 a.m., Butts wished her a happy new year as he left a friend’s house — the last time the couple spoke. When he was struck, Moody said, he may have been walking to his father’s home. She had spent the evening at church. Butts’s wife, Tjamanquie Moody, 32, said her husband had been celebrating the holiday that night with his brother and a few friends. Shortly after 1 a.m., Butts wished her a happy new year as he left a friend’s house — the last time the couple spoke.
“I just wish he would have just came on to church,” she said. “And I wish the person would have just stopped, tried to see if he was OK.” When Butts was struck, Moody said, he may have been walking to his father’s home. She had spent the evening at church.
Moody said her husband of three years was creative and curious, a devoted drummer, a poet and a sometimes-sketch artist. She said he had earned his GED a few years back and was preparing to take classes in mortuary studies at the University of the District of Columbia. “I just wish he would have just came on to church,” she said. “And I wish the person would have just stopped — tried to see if he was okay.”
Lockamy recalled that when his son was 7 years old, nearly three decades ago, he surprised him a black Ludwig drum set. Lockamy often played a bass guitar at home. When he did, Butts would come out of his bedroom and ask, “Daddy, what you doin’?” Moody said her husband of three years was creative and curious, a devoted drummer, a poet and a sometimes-sketch artist. She said he had earned his GED a few years ago and was preparing to take classes in mortuary studies at the University of the District of Columbia.
Lockamy recalled surprising his son at age 7 with a black Ludwig drum set. Lockamy often played a bass guitar at home, he said, and his young son would come out of his bedroom and ask, “Daddy, what you doing?”
“That was his excuse to get out there,” Lockamy said. “He’d come out there and watch me play the bass.”“That was his excuse to get out there,” Lockamy said. “He’d come out there and watch me play the bass.”
So he gave his son an instrument of his own, and a set of sticks. So he gave his son an instrument of his own and a set of sticks.
“When I brought him the drum set, I set it down in the living room, and he got on that drum set and God just took over from there,” he said. “He played for the church all the time. Most of the time he played by himself, but you thought it was a whole band in there.”“When I brought him the drum set, I set it down in the living room, and he got on that drum set and God just took over from there,” he said. “He played for the church all the time. Most of the time he played by himself, but you thought it was a whole band in there.”
Moody had fond memories of Valentine’s Day with her husband. Two years ago, she said, when he wasn’t working and was short on money, he resolved “I’m gonna make sure I get you something.” Moody recalled Valentine’s Day about two years ago. She said that despite being short on money, Butts had resolved to get her something special.
She arrived home that day to find a fruit arrangement with bananas, strawberries, grapes and chocolate, and a pink flower in the middle — her favorite color.She arrived home that day to find a fruit arrangement with bananas, strawberries, grapes and chocolate, and a pink flower in the middle — her favorite color.
“It was just so gorgeous and I knew it was from his heart,” she said.“It was just so gorgeous and I knew it was from his heart,” she said.
Moody pleaded Saturday for the driver of the sport-utility vehicle that hit her husband to come forward. Her family is a forgiving one, she said. Moody pleaded on Saturday for the driver of the sport-utility vehicle that hit her husband to come forward.
Her family is a forgiving one, she said.
“If it was a mistake and you didn’t know, just come to let us know,” she said. “Just free us and most of all, think about his four children that you have left out here at a young age.”“If it was a mistake and you didn’t know, just come to let us know,” she said. “Just free us and most of all, think about his four children that you have left out here at a young age.”