In the early hours of February 6, 2023, the life of Deveall La Ray McClendon, a 25-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just after 1:15 a.m., near the area of Hennepin and Lyndale avenues by Loring Park, gunshots shattered the quiet of the morning. Responding to reports of a car crash and gunfire, police discovered McClendon behind the wheel of his Dodge Charger, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He had crashed into another vehicle after being shot. First responders provided aid, and he was rushed to a nearby medical center, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Deveall, known affectionately as "Mac," was a man with a promising future and a generous spirit. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, he was a graduate of Benedict College, a historically Black college in South Carolina. In Minneapolis, he had found a community as a player for the Minneapolis Warriors, a semi-pro football team. He had been a fullback and defensive end for the team and was preparing to rejoin for the upcoming 2023 season. Those who knew him remembered his kindness, with the team's president recalling a video of McClendon giving the shoes off his feet to a man who had none. He was not just an athlete; he also worked in private security. His death was the city's seventh homicide of the year.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting led authorities down a path of digital forensics. Surveillance video showed McClendon's Charger traveling beside a Chevrolet Malibu moments before the shooting. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle speed away after the gunshots. For months, no arrests were made, leaving his family and friends searching for answers. Then, nearly ten months after the fatal shooting, a 19-year-old, Clyde Mack Lee III, was charged with second-degree murder. The charges were built on evidence that included Snapchat location data, which allegedly showed Lee moving in sync with the suspect's vehicle on the morning of the killing. Investigators also found that bullet casings from the scene matched a firearm used in a previous shooting, and a Snapchat video reportedly showed Lee holding a handgun around the time of that earlier incident.
Despite the initial charges, the path to justice took another turn. In March 2024, the second-degree murder charge against Clyde Mack Lee III was dismissed. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office cited insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Lee's defense attorneys had challenged the Snapchat evidence, arguing it wasn't precise enough, and pointed out that his DNA was not found in the shooter's car. The dismissal of the charges was a devastating blow to McClendon's family, who believe the shooting was a random act of violence. They continue to advocate for justice for their son, pressing law enforcement to continue the investigation and hold whoever was responsible accountable. The case remains unresolved.
