Candlelight vigil held for DC mother killed in Memorial Day shooting

Hundreds of people came together to call for justice following the murder of a 31-year-old mother in the District.

A gunman believed to be on a dirt bike opened fire and shot Tamara Gliss during a Memorial Day barbecue outside of her apartment near the corner of O Street and 7th Street in Northwest D.C.

Detectives are looking into whether she was sitting near someone the gunman may have been targeting.

Gliss' mother, Sandy, pleaded with the crowd gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of her daughter.

"You all got a code on the street of no snitching," she said to the crowd. "This is my child. You all call yourselves her friends. Somebody knows something."

While the search continues for a suspect, community members came out Friday evening to remember a woman who was clearly well-known and loved in this neighborhood.

She spoke from the Kennedy Recreation Center across the street where neighbors are rallying behind the family.

"A little tip is a big tip to the police department," said Sandy. "It's not snitching. Trust me. My baby died over there. She has a 12-year-old son."

Curtis Mozie, widely known as C-Webb, has been fulfilling a calling of sorts and has been recording the area's history. He has filmed community events for nearly three decades.

He has put together video clips of Tamara throughout the years and has been attending vigils for others who have fallen victim to violence before her.

"To see her there supporting somebody else we lost, now we're doing one for her," said Mozie. "It's unbelievable."

His videos are meant to honor community members killed on the streets and remind young people that life matters.

This part of D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood has had a facelift over the past few years. During the day, it appears revitalized and family-friendly. But problems still lurk.

Tamara's friends believe the violence has to do with beef between different neighborhood teenagers.

"It's up to our parents and our friends to talk to their kids and let them know this is not the way," Mozie said.

Tamara Gliss is remembered as a devoted mother who loved to have a good time and bring people together.

"God makes decisions and he uses people to send a message," said Torrey Burns, a basketball coach of Tamara's son. "Sometimes we don't get the message. Sometimes we just don't understand it and we ask why."

Tamara's mother also urged the crowd to let police handle the investigation. There have been fears in the neighborhood about retaliation. Officers were present at the vigil.

There is a $25,000 reward being offered for information in this case.