Patrick Eugene Walker, an 18-year-old Black male, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Born in Chicago on April 28, 2005, he later moved to Fort Dodge, where he attended Fort Dodge Middle School and was a senior in high school at the time of his death. He was known to enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing video games, and playing basketball.
The young man's life was cut short by gun violence in a shooting that occurred in downtown Fort Dodge, in the
100 block of North 10th Street. Another individual, Silas Hall, was also a victim in the shooting but survived. The Fort Dodge Police Department investigated the fatal shooting, which led them to identify a suspect in the case.
Following the incident, authorities began searching for 17-year-old Davonquae Jyshon “D.J.” Pettigrew, who was wanted for the shooting death of Walker. After a period of being on the run, Pettigrew was apprehended in Davenport, Iowa. His arrest came after a tip regarding his location was received, leading to a search warrant being executed by the Davenport Police Department. Pettigrew was taken into custody without incident and was initially charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. A second teenager, 16-year-old Haydin Mapel, was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder and attempted murder.
In May 2024, the case against the primary suspect saw a development when 18-year-old DJ Pettigrew entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of voluntary manslaughter and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. With this plea, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
