On July 19, 2017, 4-year-old De-Earlvion Whitley, a young African American boy from San Antonio, TX, tragically lost his life due to a drive-by shooting. The incident occurred late at night in the 200 block of Hub Avenue, where De-Earlvion was inside his home with his mother, Cyntwanisha Whitley, and his older brother. The home was riddled with bullets, and while De-Earlvion was shot in the face and succumbed to his injuries, his mother was hit twice in the leg but survived.
His brother escaped unharmed.
The drive-by shooting was believed to be in retaliation for a previous shooting, although De-Earlvion's family was not the intended target. The violence was part of an ongoing turf war between rival gangs in the East Side of San Antonio. Several months after the incident, a federal investigation led to the arrest of ten men, including De-Earlvion's father, Earl Whitley Jr., who was revealed to be the intended target of the shooting.
In 2020, five men—Terrell Chase, Todd Hill, Quentin Phillips, John Chatmon, and Michael Woodard—were arrested and charged with murder in connection with De-Earlvion's death. A sixth man, Dakota Peppers, was arrested but only charged with felon in possession of a firearm. The case has seen several developments, including the sentencing of Quentin Phillips to 70 years in prison for his role in the shooting. Terrell Chase is still awaiting trial on the murder charge, while Todd Hill had his murder charge dismissed but was sentenced to eight years for felon in possession.
The trial of John Chatmon is set to begin soon, with jury selection scheduled for May 19, 2023, and opening statements and testimony to follow on May 22, 2023. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the devastating impact of gang violence on innocent lives and the importance of holding offenders accountable.
The loss of De-Earlvion Whitley has been a poignant reminder of the need for community safety and the prevention of such tragedies. His memory lives on as a symbol of the fight against gang violence and the pursuit of justice for victims and their families.
