In the late winter of 2019, the life of a young woman from Charleston, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. Deja Katrice Dantley, a 23-year-old female, was found deceased on the evening of February 26th. Her body was discovered inside her vehicle, which was parked at the Citadel Mall. An autopsy would later confirm that she had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The investigation into her death quickly focused on a man with whom she was acquainted.
Witnesses reported seeing Dantley arguing with a man in the mall's parking lot shortly before a gunshot was heard. The man was identified as 28-year-old Cary Kejuan Janai Stephens. According to police, Stephens and Dantley knew one another, and he was seen driving away from the scene after the shooting. This was not Stephens' first encounter with law enforcement; at the time of this incident, he had been arrested 17 times since 2009. His prior charges included a pending domestic violence case from January 2018.
Following the shooting, a manhunt for Stephens was initiated. U.S. Marshals apprehended him in North Charleston. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. After his arrest, Stephens was booked at the Al Cannon Detention Center. Further details regarding the resolution of these charges, including any trial or conviction, are not available in the provided online sources.
