In the small community of Chancellor, Alabama, the life of 22-year-old Devontia Demarius Wilkerson, a Black / African American male, was cut tragically short on October 31, 2021. Wilkerson was discovered deceased inside his residence on New Hope Road, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities officially pronounced him dead at approximately 3:19 p.m.
that Halloween afternoon.
The initial investigation into Wilkerson's death was launched as a homicide by the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Investigators believed that Wilkerson may have been killed at an earlier time on the day his body was found. A front window of his home appeared to have been shot out, suggesting a potential point of entry or a detail of the violent encounter that took place. For many months, the case remained without significant public developments, leaving a community to mourn and wonder who was responsible for the young man's death.
A potential breakthrough in the investigation came in March 2024, when authorities released surveillance footage captured on the night of the murder. The video showed four individuals fleeing from the crime scene. In the footage, one person can be seen entering and then exiting the house through a side window before all four suspects run away. This release of new evidence brought renewed attention to the cold case, as investigators hoped it would generate leads from the public. A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Wilkerson's death. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to seek justice for Devontia Demarius Wilkerson.
