A Washington, D.C., city official died on Friday after a crash on an electric scooter.
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The Washington, D.C., Scooter Crash Involved a City Official
The death of Talib Shakir was confirmed by the office of Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and city police officials on Saturday, Oct. 10.
As The Washington Post reports, the 50-year-old Shakir directed the office of returning citizen affairs, which coordinates services for those who were formerly incarcerated.
Police responded to the incident at the intersection of 8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE around 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. According to a statement released on Saturday, Shakir and another woman on an electric scooter crashed into each other at the intersection.
Police said that Shakir was unconscious at the scene and not breathing. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Mayor Bowser shared in a statement released on Saturday that Shakir was dedicated to creating opportunities for Washington, D.C., residents.
She also added, "Talib made the most of his second chance and dedicated himself to helping others do the same."
Shakir Turned His Life Around
In 1993, Shakir pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a store clerk in Washington, D.C. He served more than two decades in prison for the crime. This came after a psychiatric treatment center stay at age 15 after the killing of a cab driver.
After Shakir's release, he then reconnected with his family. His mother, Gloria Jordan, said he wanted to make up for lost time.
"He really craved a relationship with his siblings because he was gone for so long," she said. "He was trying to fill that gap."
Shakir's mother also said that he was honored to work for the government after his release.
She said, "He was very diligent, very determined to make something out of his life, and to serve the people."
Shakir shared his experience in a book published earlier this year titled From Cell Block to City Hall: How Lived Experience Becomes the Most Powerful Policy Tool in America.
The unidentified woman on the other scooter has been released from the hospital. The incident is currently under investigation.
