In the summer of 2016, a a Black / African American man named Devonne Christopher Burton, 28, was killed in a violent encounter in Denver, Colorado. On the evening of June 3rd, police were called to a residence on Hudson Street in the North Park Hill neighborhood where they discovered a grim scene. Inside the home, Devonne and another man, Sean Point, were found deceased from gunshot wounds. A third man, Derrius Woods, was critically injured and later died at a local hospital.
A fourth individual was also shot but survived.
Investigators at the scene discovered marijuana plants and other drugs, leading them to characterize the incident as a drug deal that had escalated into a triple homicide. The Denver Police Department began an intensive search for those responsible, circulating a description of a maroon Chevy Tahoe with temporary tags that was believed to be connected to the crime. The violent deaths of the three young men sent shockwaves through the community, leaving their families and friends in profound grief.
In the days and weeks that followed, the investigation progressed, leading to the identification and arrest of three suspects. Former University of Colorado Buffaloes football player Chadd Evans, along with Deashaun Turrentine and Dejuan Jones, were taken into custody and subsequently charged in connection with the murders. The arrests brought a measure of resolution to the case, though the motive was described by law enforcement as a robbery that had gone tragically wrong. The incident stood as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence.
