In the spring of 2015, a quiet street in East New York, Brooklyn, became the scene of a grim discovery. On the morning of April 17th, the body of 24-year-old Dawan Turner was found in the passenger seat of a gray Kia Optima parked on Essex Street near Linden Boulevard. Initially, the cause of his death was not immediately apparent to the police who were called to the scene around 8:20 a.m.
It was the city medical examiner who would later uncover the violent end Turner had met.
An autopsy revealed he had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. Investigators began to piece together the circumstances of his killing, and their focus soon turned to the possibility of gang-related violence. Turner was known to have associations with a local crew, a fact that led detectives to believe his murder was connected to these affiliations. The police, however, did not publicly disclose the name of the specific gang he was allegedly involved with.
Despite having a criminal record that included seven prior arrests for charges such as strangulation and criminal mischief, the investigation into Turner's death struggled to gain traction. The trail for his killer or killers grew cold, and no immediate suspects were identified. The gang-related nature of the crime presented significant challenges for law enforcement, and unfortunately, no arrests have been made in connection with his murder. The case of Dawan Turner's death remains unresolved, leaving his family and community searching for answers and the justice that has so far remained elusive.
