In the early morning hours of October 29, 2017, the life of 30-year-old Devoshay A. Adams, a Black male, was tragically cut short in Elmira, New York. Police responded to a call shortly before 4 a.m. at a residence on the 400 block of West Gray Street, where they discovered Adams with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was rushed to a local hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Adams' death led Elmira police to identify 27-year-old Marquis L.
McKinney as a suspect. In late December 2017, a Chemung County grand jury indicted McKinney on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Adams' shooting. Following his arraignment in January 2018, McKinney was held in the Chemung County Jail.
McKinney's trial began in June 2018. After jury selection and testimony, the case went to the jury for deliberation. In early August 2018, the Chemung County Court jury returned a verdict, finding McKinney not guilty on all charges. This acquittal meant that the murder of Devoshay A. Adams remained legally unresolved. Throughout the investigation and trial, the Elmira Police Department had appealed to the public for any information regarding the incident.
