Dejour Paul, a 27-year-old man from Brooklyn, was remembered by loved ones with the nickname "DayDay." Following his death, his name and memory were kept alive by those who knew him. On social media, friends and family expressed their shock and sorrow. A cousin shared her grief, writing, "i love you cuz ya name forever gon live on dayday." Another friend posted a simple, mournful message, "Damn RIP @dayday90z," reflecting the sudden and tragic loss felt by his community.
Though details of his personal life and work are not widely known, these tributes paint a picture of a young man whose absence created a deep void for those who cared for him.
In the quiet, pre-dawn hours of Monday, September 28, 2026, that life was irrevocably altered. At approximately 3:20 a.m., Dejour was sitting behind the wheel of his grey Mercedes-Benz, which was parked on Rutland Road in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. The car was stopped in front of a bodega at 980 Rutland Road, near the intersection with East 93rd Street. In a sudden eruption of violence, an unknown assailant opened fire on the vehicle. The Mercedes was riddled with bullets, and Dejour was struck in the head. The attack was swift and brutal, shattering the early morning stillness of the residential street.
Police and emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene. First responders found Dejour with a critical head wound and immediately began life-saving measures. He was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. For nearly a week, he fought for his life, but the damage was too severe. On Sunday, October 4, 2026, Dejour Paul succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) secured the crime scene on Rutland Road for hours after the shooting. Detectives from the local precinct began a painstaking investigation, canvassing the area for witnesses and evidence. They recovered eight shell casings from the pavement around the Mercedes, indicating the intensity of the assault. Investigators learned that a grey, four-door sedan was seen leaving the area shortly after the gunshots were heard. The vehicle was reportedly traveling east on Rutland Road, and police have been working to determine if it was connected to the shooting.
The investigation into Dejour's homicide is ongoing, and as of October 2026, no arrests had been made. The NYPD has not publicly identified any suspects or commented on a possible motive for the attack. The East Flatbush neighborhood where the shooting occurred is a vibrant and densely populated community, a mix of residential apartment buildings, houses, and commercial businesses. The violence that claimed Dejour's life left residents and his family searching for answers that have not yet come.
Public records indicate that in June 2019, a Dejour Paul, who would have been 19 at the time, was arrested in Brooklyn on a second-degree weapons possession charge along with three other young men after a traffic stop. It has not been officially confirmed if this was the same Dejour Paul, and authorities have not linked this prior incident to his killing.
The case remains open and active. Dejour Paul’s family and friends were left to mourn a life cut short, waiting for a breakthrough in the investigation that might bring them a measure of justice. There has been no public announcement of a reward for information. The NYPD continues to investigate and urges anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward.
