Donzell Aaron Canada

Donzell Aaron Canada, known affectionately to his friends and family as "Zelly," was a man who lived with love and loyalty. Born on Christmas Day in 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, Donzell was remembered for always smiling and grinning, able to find joy and offer reassurance in any situation. He was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and accepted his faith in his early twenties. Donzell had a passion for capturing memories, always taking pictures, and he loved to listen to and blast music whenever he had the chance. His greatest joy, however, was becoming a father. He cherished every moment spent with his "little princess," Aaryn, creating a lifetime of memories of love and joy for her to hold onto forever.

The life of 29-year-old Donzell, a Black male, was cut short on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in a brazen daytime shooting. Around 12:30 p.m., gunfire erupted at the West Baltimore intersection of North Fulton Avenue and Presstman Street in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. When Baltimore Police officers arrived, they discovered two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Donzell had been shot, as had a 16-year-old male who was struck in the leg. Both were rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment. While the teenager survived his injuries, Donzell was pronounced dead by medical staff.

The shooting occurred just a day before an acquittal in the trial of an officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a friend of Donzell's. A year prior, speaking to the Baltimore Sun after Gray's death, Donzell had expressed a sense of grim resignation to the violence on the streets, stating, "Honestly, I didn't know how to feel because I've lost a lot of friends on these same streets, and I'm kind of getting numb – not numb, but it's not a surprise." His own death became another tragic statistic in a city grappling with a surge in homicides.

The investigation into Donzell Canada's murder was launched by the Baltimore Police Department's homicide detectives. In the immediate aftermath, police canvassed the area for witnesses and evidence, but details about what led to the shooting or a description of any suspects were not publicly released. The case quickly went cold, with no arrests made and no persons of interest ever named publicly. The double shooting happened in a busy area in the middle of the day, yet the case has remained unsolved for years, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

Donzell was survived by his daughter, Aaryn; his mother, Ponneice Vick; his father, Larry Canada; his sisters, Vonneice and Briona; his brothers, Lavar, Demetrius, and Larry; his grandmother, Ida Canada; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He also left behind Jasmin Mckoy, the devoted mother of his child, and a host of friends who cherished his advice and life lessons. His funeral services were held at the Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home, located on the same street where he was killed.

As of this writing, the murder of Donzell Aaron Canada remains unsolved. There has been no justice for the man who could make the best out of any situation and whose greatest joy was his daughter. The Baltimore Police Department continues to seek information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. Anyone with information is urged to contact homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.