In the fall of 2019, on the evening of Wednesday, October 9th, events unfolded inside a residence in the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, Northeast, that would end in tragedy. Twenty-seven-year-old Lekelefac Fonge, a male caregiver, was nearing the end of his shift caring for Devon Miler, a 24-year-old autistic man. The quiet evening was shattered when both men were fatally shot.
First responders from the Fifth District of the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene at
approximately 9:47 p.m. following a report of a shooting. Upon entering the home, they discovered both Fonge, of Lanham, Maryland, and Miler, of Northeast, D.C., unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, neither man could be saved, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led detectives to identify a suspect: 27-year-old Davon Peyton of Alexandria, Virginia. A warrant for his arrest was issued, charging him with first-degree murder while armed. Considered armed and dangerous, a public alert was issued seeking information on his whereabouts. The search for Peyton was extensive, involving the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Just three days after the shooting, on Saturday, October 12, 2019, authorities located and apprehended Davon Peyton. Following his arrest, the legal proceedings against him commenced. Ultimately, Peyton pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder while armed. The case drew further attention when a physical altercation broke out between the families of the victims and the defendant in the courthouse hallway following the plea hearing.
