By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE — A group gathered at the corner of Goodwill Avenue and Washington Street on Friday evening, with lighted candles and voices raised in prayer, to honor the life of Rodrick Russ, and call for the arrest of his killer.

Mr. Russ lost his life on Oct. 24 last year, after being stabbed. A suspect in the case is being sought.
“I’m doing this because I’m his mother, and I want justice,” Jeanne Elliott said.
Earlier on Friday, Cambridge Police Department Capt. Justin Todd told the Banner, “Ryshon Kelly is still wanted by our agency for the murder of Russ. We have been assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service in the hope of locating him, but have been unsuccessful as of this time. We, along with the Marshals, are still actively searching for Kelly.”

On Oct. 24, at approximately 12:10 a.m., officers from the Cambridge Police Department were dispatched to the 700 block of Douglas Street for a reported stabbing, where they made contact with Mr. Russ. He was taken to University of Maryland, Shore Medical Center at Dorchester where life-saving measures were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his injury.
Officers conducted multiple interviews and spoke with witnesses who said there had been an altercation with the suspect, who left the scene prior to police arrival.
“My son was a loving, caring person,” Ms. Elliott said. “He did not deserve this at all.”

Mr. Russ’s sister Sha’Quanna Manokey remembered her brother’s love for children, and his giving nature. “He would do anything for kids,” she said.

That led him to donate his musical and dance skills, including through the group Let Out Nation, founded to give youth a positive way to express their feelings.

The children responded, she said, by spending time at Ms. Elliott’s house, where, she said with a laugh, their dancing feet pounded down the grass in the yard.

Wave of violence

At a press conference in October of last year addressing a wave of violent crime in the city, Cambridge Police Department Capt. Justin Todd urged the public to get involved and assist authorities in solving the crimes taking place. He said citizens sometimes do not want to communicate with the police.

Chief Mark Lewis said at the conference that his officers knew, in some cases, that there were witnesses to crimes, but that they were unwilling to speak. The chief’s words were echoed by Ms. Elliott at the vigil — she said she believes someone, somewhere knows the suspect’s whereabouts.

Ryshon Kelly has an active arrest warrant for first-degree murder and related charges. Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Cambridge Police Department.
Capt. Todd said, “I want to stress the Tip Line. You can remain anonymous, you can provide investigators information…If that leads to something, that’s wonderful. If it doesn’t, we can rule that out.”

The Tip Line, originally established for drug issues, is 410-228-DRUG, or 410-228-3784. There is no caller ID, so anyone using the line will remain anonymous.
“Across our nation, unfortunately, there is a general sense of lawlessness,” State’s Attorney for Dorchester County William Jones said at the press conference. “In a civilized society, we all have to treat each other with respect. Then, things will be safe again.”

Mr. Russ’s family urged police to make their best efforts to find and arrest the perpetrator. Ms. Elliott said she knew her staying active in the case would not bring her son back, but is a way to promote justice, peace, love and unity.

“As long as I live, my son’s spirit will live on,” she said. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”