Deandre Hampton-Thomas, a 26-year-old African American man from Dayton, Ohio, tragically lost his life on September 13, 2017. He was fatally shot outside the Dearborn Market in the 600 block of Dearborn Avenue around 3:00 PM. The incident occurred when Dayton police officers heard gunshots and saw a person pointing a weapon before fleeing the scene.
Despite their efforts to perform life-saving measures, Deandre was pronounced dead shortly after medics arrived.
The investigation into Deandre's death led to the arrest of Taevian Harris, who was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder. Harris was also found guilty of firing shots at police officers as he attempted to escape the scene. The Dayton Police Department and homicide detectives worked diligently to gather evidence and build a case against Harris, ultimately leading to his conviction.
The loss of Deandre Hampton-Thomas deeply affected his family and the community, who remembered him as a loving father to his three sons, DeAndre Jr., DreVeon, and Dreiden. His funeral was held at Harvest Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton, where family and friends gathered to honor his memory.
The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Dayton and the efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to victims and their families. The community continues to seek ways to prevent such tragedies and support those affected by them.
