In the early hours of a spring day in Buffalo, New York, the life of 31-year-old DeQwaun Newkirk was tragically cut short. On April 25, 2019, he was fatally shot while sitting in his car outside his mother's home on East Amherst Street. The startling sound of gunshots woke his mother, Tanja Newkirk, who tragically discovered her son's vehicle lodged against a house across the street.
DeQwaun's mother described the immense pain of losing a son, a father, a grandson, and an uncle.
She firmly believes that her son's death was not a result of gang violence but rather an act of jealousy. According to her, the entire incident was captured on her home security cameras, which she promptly turned over to the Buffalo Police Department to aid in their investigation. This was not the first time tragedy had struck the family; Tanja Newkirk had previously lost her husband's son to violence in 2013.
In the wake of his death, DeQwaun was remembered as a man who was actively turning his life around. Though he had faced troubles in his past, he had since become a business owner and was in the process of establishing a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring young men and steering them away from street life. His family and community mourned the loss of a man they saw as a budding community activist.
Despite the video evidence and his mother's public pleas for justice, the investigation into DeQwaun Newkirk's murder remains ongoing. As of late 2025, there has been no public announcement of any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with his killing. The case continues to be an open investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, leaving his family still searching for answers and closure.
