Deven Dalton, a 20-year-old resident of Hesperia, California, tragically lost his life on January 13, 2022, in Victorville. Deven was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Stater Bros. supermarket located on Bear Valley Road. The incident occurred around 2:35 p.m. when deputies from the Victorville Sheriff’s Station responded to reports of gunshots in the area. Upon arrival, they found Deven suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite being transported to a local hospital, Deven was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The investigation into Deven's death was swiftly undertaken by the Sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail. Through their efforts, two suspects were identified and subsequently arrested. Kody Lee McDufienunnery, an 18-year-old from Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of murder, while Christine Kathleen Proffitt, a 19-year-old resident of Victorville, was arrested for being an accessory after the fact. Both suspects were taken into custody early on January 15, 2022, and booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto without bail.
The community was deeply affected by Deven's untimely death. Deven was remembered as a responsible and hardworking young man who had graduated from Sultana High School in 2020. He was actively involved in sports, having played basketball in elementary school, participated in track and field at Ranchero Middle School, and served as a defensive back for the Sultana High School football team. His family and friends held a vigil near the site of the shooting, where they laid flowers, lit prayer candles, and shared memories of Deven.
The legal proceedings following the arrests of McDufienunnery and Proffitt are ongoing. The case has garnered significant attention, with the community and Deven's family seeking justice for his senseless killing. The authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to aid in the investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
