Gunshots At Car Lot Cut Short Owner's Joy

Robbery Suspected In District Slaying

On Christmas Eve, after attending the Redskins game, mega-fan Francis Kamara drove to his used-car lot in Northeast Washington to dole out employee bonuses, relatives said.

Swept up in the euphoria of the Redskins' victory and the joy of the holiday season, he arrived at the small lot on Bladensburg Avenue about 5:20 p.m., relatives said. He went inside. He came out. Suddenly, shots were fired.

Kamara, 38, whom friends called Frank, was hit more than once and fell to the pavement between the cars. D.C. police said a man -- about 5 feet 10 inches, 170 pounds, in a black baseball cap, black peacoat and dark pants -- ran off, darting through the alley before possibly getting into a large brown sport-utility vehicle.

Kamara, who was married and the father of three teenage daughters, was killed in what police said they suspect was an attempt to rob him. It was the 193rd homicide in the city this year.

Yesterday, family members and friends gathered at his two-story colonial-style home on a rain-soaked cul-de-sac in Hyattsville. There were some wrapped presents on the floor and a Christmas wreath, but no holiday joy.

Two of his brothers spoke of Kamara's generosity to relatives and friends and to customers and residents around the 1100 block of Bladensburg Road, where he owned East Coast Auto for five years.

"He was just the best brother. He taught me how to be a man. He took care of me," said Mohammad Kamara, 33, who flew in from out of state after hearing about the shooting.

"He was loved by everybody. He never feared anybody."

His younger brother Abdul Kamara Jr., 25, who works at the lot, said: "He was my Michael Jordan. He showed me so much."

According to the brothers, Kamara had always loved cars. As a teenager, he bought a Ford Mustang. In time, he landed a dealer's license, but he had no lot, so he stored the cars wherever he could until they were sold.

"He always wanted a car lot," Mohammad Kamara said. "He knew cars."

Around the car lot, neighborhood children often came by looking for a place to hang out or make a buck, people said. They said Kamara would pay them to sweep up or wash cars.