Derek Palmer

Derek “DP” Palmer was a 25-year-old Black man whose life was cut short in a violent encounter in Conway, Arkansas. On the night of January 21, 2023, he was with his companion, 26-year-old Raekwon Hull, when both men were fatally shot. The double homicide sent a shock through the community and launched an intensive investigation by the Conway Police Department.

As detectives worked to piece together the events of that tragic evening, they soon identified several persons of interest. The investigation led to its first breakthrough with the arrest of 19-year-old Dashaun Jordan Jones. As police continued to pursue leads, they apprehended a second suspect shortly thereafter, taking 18-year-old Kaylon Nykai Ravine into custody. Both Jones and Ravine were subsequently charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of Derek Palmer and Raekwon Hull.

The investigation did not end there. Detectives continued to gather information, and their work led them to a third suspect who had left the state. In September 2023, eight months after the shooting, 19-year-old Tracey Patton Jr. was arrested in Minnesota for his alleged role in the double homicide.

The loss of the two young men left a lasting impact on their families and the community, who were left to grapple with the senseless act of gun violence. As of the third arrest in September 2023, the case against the three suspects was proceeding through the justice system.