In the quiet of a Baton Rouge night, 3-year-old Devin Page Jr., a Black male child, was resting in what should have been the safest of places – his own bed. It was just before midnight on April 12, 2022, and the preschooler was asleep next to his 1-year-old sister in their home on Fairfields Avenue. Unbeknownst to the sleeping children, a gunfight had erupted outside between two individuals.
A stray bullet from this altercation pierced the wall of their home, traveled through the window, and tragically struck Devin in the head, ending his young life as he slept.
The aftermath of the shooting left Devin's family shattered. His mother, Tye Toliver, and grandmother, Cathy Toliver, have spoken of the immense pain and the void left by his absence. The family had reportedly been concerned about the escalating violence in their neighborhood and had even expressed their desire to move. His mother had allegedly requested to be let out of their lease due to safety concerns prior to the fatal shooting. The senselessness of his death, a consequence of violence he had no part in, has been a recurring theme in his family's public statements. They remember him as a smart and intelligent toddler who loved playing with his siblings.
As of now, a direct arrest for Devin's murder has not been made, and the case officially remains unsolved, a source of ongoing anguish for his loved ones. However, there has been a development in the investigation. A minor, Johnny Brown, was later found in possession of a gun that was forensically linked to the shootout that occurred on the night of Devin's death. It is not believed that this specific gun fired the fatal bullet that struck the child. Complicating the investigation, it was discovered that the ankle monitoring company tasked with tracking Brown had no data on his whereabouts during the period the shooting took place, creating a significant gap in a potential lead. The community has mourned with the family, holding balloon releases and birthday remembrances at his gravesite, keeping the memory of the 'always happy' little boy alive, while they continue to wait for justice.
