In the waning days of December, a bright future was tragically cut short in Montgomery, Alabama. Fourteen-year-old Deanthony Vickers, Jr., a freshman and aspiring athlete at Carver High School, was fatally wounded in a shooting on the afternoon of Monday, December 26, 2022. He succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 28, 2022.
The young man, known affectionately as DJ to his loved ones, was reportedly walking from his girlfriend's house to his cousin's on Park Towne Way when
the incident occurred. His family remembers him as a gifted and promising individual, with his father describing him as 'truly a gift from God' whose future was stolen from him before it could truly begin. The community rallied around his grieving family, holding a candlelight vigil to honor his memory and offer support.
In the wake of the shooting, the Montgomery Police Department launched a homicide investigation that quickly led to an arrest. Eighteen-year-old Demericon Crosskey of Montgomery was taken into custody and charged with murder. He is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Facility. The victim's father expressed his shock and confusion, stating he had known the suspect since he was a baby and could not understand the motive behind the violent act.
Deanthony's death prompted a renewed call from his family and local officials to address and end senseless youth violence in the community. His funeral service was held on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at True Divine Baptist Church, where friends, family, and community members gathered to mourn the profound loss of a young life.
