On August 13, 2015, the life of 28-year-old African American resident Devon Cortez Fletcher was tragically cut short in the North Pointe neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. The incident occurred just after midnight in the 6000 block of Schulte Avenue, where Devon was gathering with a group of friends and acquaintances. The atmosphere of the late-night social gathering turned chaotic when an unknown vehicle approached the group, shattering the peace of the residential street.
Witnesses reported that a gold or tan Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck drove eastbound on Schulte Avenue from Mimika Avenue. As the truck passed the group, occupants inside the vehicle suddenly opened fire on the people standing on the sidewalk. The drive-by shooting happened rapidly, leaving the victims with little time to react or seek cover before the truck sped away from the scene.
Devon, known affectionately to his loved ones as 'Dee' or 'Head,' was struck by gunfire in the abdomen during the barrage. He was not the only victim claimed by the violence that night; 24-year-old Whitney Brown, who was standing nearby, was also hit, suffering a fatal gunshot wound to her torso. Emergency responders transported Devon to a local hospital, where medical personnel attempted to save him, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Whitney Brown also died from her wounds, turning the incident into a double homicide.
In the years following the shooting, the case has remained unsolved, with investigators struggling to identify the individuals responsible. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and CrimeStoppers have issued repeated appeals to the public, releasing surveillance images of the suspect vehicle—the distinctive gold or tan Chevrolet Silverado—in hopes of generating leads. Despite these efforts and the passage of a decade, no suspects have been publicly named or arrested in connection with the murders of Devon and Whitney, leaving the case as an open homicide investigation.
Devon was remembered by his community as a quiet man with a contagious smile and a knack for joking. Born in St. Louis as the tenth of eleven children to parents Calvin and Linda Fletcher, he was deeply embedded in a large, loving family. He left behind three daughters named Dream, Shamari, and Danura, as well as numerous siblings and extended family members who continue to wait for justice.
