On a spring evening in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the life of 27-year-old Kendric JuMel Evans was brought to a violent and abrupt end. On April 16, 2024, at the Bayberry Apartments on Windsor Street, Evans was shot multiple times. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found him suffering from critical gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Erlanger Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation that followed painted a chilling picture of the
moments leading up to the shooting. Surveillance footage from the apartment complex captured a male suspect dressed in a black hoodie, light-colored blue jeans, a face mask, and white gloves. The footage showed the individual walking into a breezeway where he encountered Evans. Without warning, the suspect opened fire, shooting Evans multiple times before quickly fleeing the scene. Investigators also noted the presence of a navy blue Chevrolet Tahoe with dark-tinted windows that had entered the parking lot approximately 20 minutes before the fatal encounter. The driver of the Tahoe was seen getting out of the vehicle and speaking with a small group of people.
Witnesses and citizen informants proved crucial in the case. A nearby resident reported hearing the gunshots and seeing a man matching the suspect's description running from the scene and getting into a navy blue SUV. Multiple informants identified the shooter as 29-year-old Deangelo Dews, a convicted felon. Armed with this information, police located and arrested Dews on April 29, 2024. During questioning, Dews admitted to being at the Bayberry Apartments on the day of the murder, stating he was there to visit his sister. He also confirmed that he had backed his vehicle into a driveway on a nearby avenue, a detail that aligned with accounts from witnesses. Based on the combination of surveillance footage, witness statements, and physical evidence, including multiple shell casings found at the scene, Deangelo Dews was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
