A 22-year‑old African American male named Kevin D'Anthony Waterman met a tragic end on July 20, 2012, when gunfire cut short the life of this young man from Wilmington, Delaware. As he walked along East 10th Street in his hometown, an argument erupted over a dice game—an everyday pastime turned fatal. In that heated moment, Kasheif Dollard, then 27 years old and hailing from Bear, pulled out a handgun.
Without warning, the weapon discharged, striking Kevin in the back and ending the life of this 22‑year‑old Black man in the midst of a casual street dispute. The violence felt sudden, cruel, irreparable.
In the days that followed, grief enveloped Wilmington's community. The young man, remembered as a beloved son and devoted friend, was mourned deeply. Obituaries described him as a product of Wilmington's Eastside, a committed youth usher and choir member at Ezion Fair Baptist Church, and an avid basketball talent whose athleticism shone both in school and local leagues. As an only child, this 22‑year‑old male was cherished by his parents—Robert “Kevin” Locke and Cynthia “Lucy” Waterman‑Locke—as well as by his wide circle of family, friends, and mentors who recalled his warm smile and charm. He left behind a young daughter, Ya'ziah, and a devoted girlfriend, Yasmeena Brown, his deep bonds anchoring a brief but vibrant life.
Two years after his death, the man who pulled the trigger faced the consequences. In January, Kasheif Dollard pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder for the fatal shooting. The sentencing came in May 2014, and the 27‑year‑old man from Bear offered an apology at the sentencing hearing in a Superior Court in Wilmington. The court sentenced him to 30 years in prison, a measure of justice for the senseless loss of a 22‑year‑old African American male who had a daughter, who had dreams, and whose life was so abruptly extinguished over a street‑side argument.
Thus unfolded the story of a young Black man whose life, with all its warmth and potential, ended that July evening in 2012. The 22-year-old male from Wilmington was killed, a suspect was arrested and convicted, and a sentence was delivered—yet the loss remained imprinted on the hearts of those who loved him.
