In the early summer evening of June 5, 2020, the life of 18-year-old Donnovan Clayton was tragically cut short in Troy, New York. A Black / African American student on the cusp of graduating from Troy High School, Donnovan was walking home in the North Central neighborhood at around 10:45 p.m. when he was struck by a stray bullet. A patrol officer discovered him on the sidewalk near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Swift Street.
First responders performed CPR and transported him to Samaritan Hospital, but the young man could not be revived.
Investigators quickly determined that Donnovan was an innocent victim, simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bullet that ended his life was not meant for him, and authorities believe it was fired during a nearby shooting. He was remembered as a promising student who was also the primary caregiver for his ailing mother. The tragedy was compounded just two weeks later when his grief-stricken mother, Caroline Clayton, suffered a stroke and passed away at the age of 48. His family, particularly his older sister, believes her death was a direct result of the heartbreak over losing her son.
In the wake of the senseless killing, the Troy community came together to demand justice. A reward fund, initiated by a former mayor, grew to more than $10,000 in an effort to encourage anyone with information to come forward. Despite the reward and pleas from Donnovan's family for witnesses to show courage and speak up, the case has grown cold. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
The Troy Police Department has continued to investigate, releasing images of two vehicles, a gold 2004 Acura TL and a silver 2005 Audi A4, that were seen in the vicinity of the shooting. Detectives have acknowledged the investigation has been challenging with few leads, but they remain hopeful that someone in the community holds the key to solving the case. To date, the person responsible for Donnovan Clayton's death remains at large, leaving his family and community waiting for justice.
