Before he was killed at 19, David Robinson had been trying to break free of the mayhem that defined his life in Shaw. He had a job he enjoyed, a deepening faith in Islam, a high school diploma nearly in hand, and a much-wanted baby on the way. But a new pair of Nike sneakers — a gift from his godmother for turning his life around — made him the target of a robbery that left him bleeding and unconscious on a sidewalk one night.
David Robinson had worn a new pair of $220 Zoom Nikes like these for 17 days before he was shot on Jan. 8, 2012. His assailants, who robbed and then killed him, have not been found.Michael S. Williamson/THE WASHINGTON POST