Throngs Gather to Remember Man Shot by Official

Marilynn Clark, mother of Brandon Clark, at her son's burial at Washington National Cemetery in Suitland. He died from injuries suffered Jan. 25 in a shooting during a delivery to Prince George's official Keith Washington. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

There are still many things unclear about the night Brandon D. Clark and another man were shot while delivering furniture to a Prince George's County homeland security official. But at Clark's funeral yesterday, friends and family said one thing was certain: He will not be forgotten.

More than 500 people showed up at Macedonia Community Church in Northeast Washington to pay their respects to the 22-year-old Oxon Hill man, who died last week from injuries suffered in the Jan. 25 shooting.

As the standing-room-only crowd spilled out into the church hallways, many remembered Clark for his warm bearhugs that were almost as big as his appetite. At 6 feet 4 inches and nearly 260 pounds, Clark had been an imposing figure on the football field at DuVal High School, but at home he was always easygoing, family and friends said.

The shooting that led to Clark's death was not directly addressed at his funeral. Instead, family and friends stomped their feet, clapped and waved their hands as a testament to Clark's memory, between rousing hymns and passionate words from a host of speakers.

"Brandon was a great young man. He came from a good family," said Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene W. Grant. "His memory will not be forgotten."

Clark and co-worker Robert White, 36, of the District were delivering a Marlo Furniture bed set when they were shot at the Accokeek home of Keith Washington, 45, deputy homeland security director and a 16-year veteran of the county police force. Washington fired his 9mm Beretta at the two unarmed deliverymen after an argument with the men escalated, authorities said.

Clark died before police could interview him about the incident. White is able to speak but is not well enough to give a statement to investigators, said his attorney, Michael Winkelman.

Winkelman declined to say what, if anything, White has told him about the shooting, but, he said, he is eager to see what Washington has to say.

"Obviously, we're anxious to know if he has made a statement and to know that a proper investigation is being conducted," Winkelman said.

Under state law, police officers have up to 10 days after a shooting to give a full statement. More than two weeks have passed since the shooting, but sources familiar with the investigation said Washington has not given his statement. He was out of town last week for a relative's funeral but has since returned to Prince George's, said the sources, who did not want to be identified because the investigation is ongoing.

Washington has declined to comment publicly and has not returned calls requesting comment. No one answered the phone at his house yesterday.

Last week, investigators delivered a search warrant to White's hospital room requesting a DNA sample as part of routine evidence gathering, the sources said.

The shooting has gained widespread attention because Washington, a former driver for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), has been at the center of several controversies over the years.

He was sued in 2000 by a man who claimed to have been arrested and strip-searched for protesting Washington's rough treatment of a motorist; a civil verdict against Washington for that incident was overturned on appeal. Additionally, Washington was later temporarily suspended for alleged aggressive behavior during meetings of a homeowners association board on which he served.

Yesterday, standing a few feet from the hearse bearing his twin brother's coffin, Brian Clark, 22, said his family is eager for the investigation to move forward. He said he was frustrated that Washington has not given a full statement and accused him of misleading police about what happened that night.

"He's not telling the whole truth," Brian Clark said. "I think it's about time we got some answers."