Da'Veon Da'Jior Petaway, a 19-year-old male from Lima, Ohio, tragically passed away on March 7, 2016. He was born on September 15, 1996, and was known for his love of football, basketball, boxing, music, and spending time with friends and family. Da'Veon was a member of In Faith Ministries and attended Lima Senior High School. He is survived by his parents, Bre'Shawn Petaway and Takela Florence, and several siblings.
The circumstances surrounding Da'Veon's death involved a violent
altercation at Meat City on Kibby Street in Lima. Albert McDowell, a 16-year-old at the time, was identified as the perpetrator. Initially, McDowell claimed he shot Da'Veon in self-defense, but he later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. In May 2017, McDowell was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the killing. He was captured after being on the run for nearly a month following the incident.
The case began in juvenile court, but due to the severity of the crime, prosecutors sought to try McDowell as an adult, which resulted in a more severe penalty. Additionally, McDowell was implicated as a primary participant in the shooting of Da'Veon's brother, Kylil Florence, in January 2015.
The loss of Da'Veon Petaway has left a significant impact on his family and the community, and the legal proceedings have brought some measure of justice for his untimely death.
