On July 26, 2020, 27-year-old Devante Marquise Strickland, a former Kent State University football player, was fatally shot at a party in Amanda Township near Lancaster, Ohio. Strickland, who was from Columbus, was one of two people shot at the party, which was being investigated by deputies responding to a noise complaint. He was taken to Fairfield Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect in Strickland's murder, Dai'zhon Maddox, was arrested on August 20, 2020.
Maddox was charged with aggravated murder after a traffic stop in the area of North Hamilton Road and Wagner Road, where detectives recovered three firearms, cash, narcotics, marijuana, and fentanyl from the vehicle he was in. The investigation revealed that Maddox was involved in the shooting, and he was taken into custody by multiple agencies, including the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office, Ohio Homeland Security Franklin County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshall’s Office, and Columbus Division of Police.
Strickland, who graduated from Kent State in 2015 with a degree in physical education, was remembered fondly by his former teammates and coaches. He was known for his leadership and desire to help others, and his death was a significant loss to the community. The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate the case and asked anyone with information to come forward.
The tragic death of Devante Strickland highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence and its impact on communities. His family, friends, and former teammates continue to mourn his loss and seek justice for his untimely death.
