Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Senseless Murder of 1yrd old.Antiq Hennis, In Brownsvile, Brooklyn NYC That Stopped Me Dead On.

'' Untilted '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. all rights reserved.

'' Memorial for Antiq Hennis 1yrd old shot to death '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Paying Respects '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved

'' Memorial II '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Mother Talks to Detective'' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.


'' Second Memorial '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.
'' Second Memorial '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Second Memorial '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.


'' Mother accosted by the press '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Mother '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Untitled '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.

'' Flowers for Street Memorial '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. All rights reserved.There is ONLY one flower shop in Brownsville. I had to pedal on my bicycle to get this flowers . I wanted to do something special for this little innocent baby. When, brought the flowers over to the memorial , they were the only real flowers. They thought they were fake ones. My voice broke and told them to get water and a vase. Imagine that? They were so grateful and genuinely nice to me.



'' Untilted '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. all rights reserved

'' Untilted '' 2013 Brownsville, Bk NYC.© Ruben Natal- San Miguel. all rights reserved

Antiq Hennis was a very happy go lucky innocent 1 year old toddler that gun and gang violence in Brownsville, Brooklyn NYC,  cut his life short. 

As a photographer who has been documenting life in New York City's Inner City Neighborhoods for more than a decade, could not look away at this one. I always try to find the most endearing elements, costumes and traditions that each neighborhood has and knew someday like today was going to hit a wall. I do not want this senseless life going unnoticed , I felt like , I had to do something and as photographers part of our mission is to create awareness and communicate it . Being there was quite a devastating experience. Hold your children tight and loved ones tonight. There is a mother out there that cannot. 

Here is a brief photography documentary of what truly felt being there when, decided to pay respects by bringing flowers and candles to the several street memorials set up in his memory. RIP Antiq. I hope they catch and bring to justice the coward who took his life. 

Here is some links about Brownsville , the neiborhood that is considered the most dangerous area in NYC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville,_Brooklyn

This is one of the several articles documenting the murder:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9234200
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/02/child-shot-in-head/2754539/
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/father-1-year-old-child-killed-brooklyn-helping-police-track-son-killer-cops-article-1.1443546