Dontayzhia Swift, a 19-year-old Black woman and mother to a young son, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Omaha, Nebraska, on the night of October 4, 2023. She was attending a memorial gathering outside a family home for her 16-year-old cousin, Lamarantae Swift, who had been shot and killed just three days earlier. Around 30 people were gathered at the home near 37th Street and Grand Avenue when the shooting occurred.
Shortly after 9 p.m., the city’s ShotSpotter system detected
multiple gunshots in the area, alerting the Omaha Police Department. Responding Gang Unit officers saw a white Chevrolet Tahoe leaving the scene and began to follow. When patrol officers attempted a traffic stop near 31st and Sorensen Parkway, the Tahoe fled, leading to a pursuit. While the chase was underway, other officers arrived at the Grand Avenue address and found Dontayzhia Swift outside with life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders performed life-saving measures and transported her to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The police pursuit of the Tahoe ended near North 41st and Spaulding Streets, where the driver was taken into custody. He was identified as 28-year-old Markel Devers. He was initially arrested for being an accessory to murder and fleeing to avoid arrest, though his charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder. In November 2023, police arrested a second suspect, 30-year-old Trenelle Miller, and charged him with first-degree murder and multiple weapons offenses. Prosecutors alleged that Devers drove the car and that Miller was the passenger who fired approximately 10 rounds into the crowd at the memorial.
Trenelle Miller was originally charged with first-degree murder. In a plea deal, he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree murder. During his sentencing hearing, Miller apologized to Swift's family and expressed remorse that her son would have to grow up without his mother. In February 2025, a judge sentenced him to 54 to 100 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after 27 years.
Markel Devers also faced a first-degree murder charge for his role as the driver. In March 2025, he pleaded no contest to a single charge of accessory to a felony, and the murder and weapons charges against him were dismissed. With the case resolved, a judge sentenced Devers in May 2025 to three to six years in prison, giving him credit for the 587 days he had already served.
