Damere Anthony Joseph Oliphant, a 20-year-old African American male from Lima, Ohio, tragically lost his life on March 27, 2017. Oliphant was born on January 22, 1997, and was a 2016 graduate of Lima Senior High School. He was employed at St. Rita's Laundry and attended St. Paul A.M.E. His death was the result of a drug deal gone wrong.
The incident occurred outside an apartment on Cam Court in Shawnee Township, Lima, OH.
Oliphant was shot once in the torso by Gavin Lauck, who was using an AK-47 rifle. Lauck claimed that he had intended to intimidate Oliphant by firing a shot into the ground, but the recoil caused him to accidentally fire a second shot that killed Oliphant. Lauck was under the influence of cocaine and marijuana at the time of the shooting.
Three men were charged in connection with Oliphant's death: Gavin Lauck, Collin Dysert, and Dalton Duncan. Lauck was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for murder. Dysert accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and kidnapping. Duncan also accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to at least a year in prison for kidnapping.
The case highlighted the tragic consequences of drug-related violence and the impact it has on families and communities. Oliphant's family and friends continue to remember him and honor his memory.
