On a Tuesday evening, August 9, 2016, in the small town of New Plymouth, Idaho, the life of 17-year-old Deondre Michael Kinney was tragically cut short. Deputies from the Payette County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Highway 52 at approximately 8:15 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Deondre, a resident of the home, deceased from a gunshot wound.
At the time of the incident, two other individuals, another teenager and an adult, were present
in the home. One of them immediately contacted the police after the shooting. Investigators quickly determined that the fatal shot was not self-inflicted. The person holding the gun when it discharged was one of the two witnesses present. The Payette County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Idaho State Police, launched an investigation to determine whether the shooting was a tragic accident or a homicide.
In the days following his death, details of Deondre's life emerged through his obituary. Born on May 3, 1999, in Ontario, Oregon, he was a beloved son, grandson, brother, and friend. He was actively involved in the local 4-H program, showing his dog, sheep, and horse at various events. A lover of the outdoors, Deondre enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding his dirt bike. He was also a talented athlete, participating in soccer, golf, basketball, and wrestling in the Fruitland, Payette, and Parma school districts he attended.
Despite a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Deondre's death, which included interviews with the individuals present at the time of the shooting and an autopsy, authorities have not publicly announced any arrests or named any suspects in the case. The initial investigation aimed to clarify the events of that fateful evening, but further details regarding the ultimate findings or whether any charges were ever filed have not been made available in online sources. The case was described as an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public.
