On a spring evening in Davenport, Iowa, the life of 12-year-old Devell Johnson Jr., a Black male, was tragically cut short. On April 22, 2021, Johnson was near an intersection when he was struck by gunfire. Another juvenile was also injured in the shooting incident. Johnson was a sixth-grade student at a local elementary school. Those who knew him remember a vibrant young boy with a bright smile that could light up a room.
He was adventurous, loved doing backflips, and enjoyed playing basketball and making TikTok videos.
The shooting prompted an investigation by the Davenport Police Department. In the days following the incident, a suspect was identified and apprehended. Joshaun D. Coleman, a 21-year-old from St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in connection with the shooting. He was taken into custody with the assistance of the St. Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County, Missouri, Sheriff's Department.
Coleman was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. His arrest brought a swift, though not entirely comforting, development to a community mourning the loss of a young life. Following his arrest in Missouri, Coleman was extradited to Iowa to face the charges against him.
