In a detached garage in the Seattle suburb of Burien, the life of 14-year-old Onjeray ‘OJ’ Devereaux, a male, came to a sudden and tragic end on August 14, 2018. Known as a kind-hearted and talented athlete, particularly on the youth football field where he stood out wearing the number 1 jersey, OJ was reconnecting with a childhood friend ahead of their freshman year of high school.
The reunion, however, took a devastating turn.
Inside the garage, OJ and his 16-year-old friend, Jonathan Anderson, were handling a semiautomatic handgun. The two were reportedly passing the firearm back and forth when it discharged, striking OJ in the head. A 19-year-old witness who was also present later corroborated that the incident resulted from the reckless handling of the weapon. According to court documents, the teenagers had been smoking marijuana at the time of the fatal event.
Immediately after the gun went off, a panicked Anderson ran into the main house to alert his grandparents, who then called 911. Anderson returned to the garage and attempted to help his wounded friend. Emergency services arrived, and OJ was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to the gunshot wound. The shooting was described by law enforcement as a "tragic accident." The families of both boys, who were described as best friends, were left devastated and were seen supporting each other in subsequent court appearances.
Jonathan Anderson was arrested and booked into juvenile detention. Prosecutors later made the decision to charge him as an adult. He faced charges of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. At his arraignment, Anderson pleaded not guilty, and his bail was set at $100,000. Authorities launched an investigation to determine the origin of the handgun, which was possibly stolen. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was tasked with tracing the weapon, as family members were unaware of where the teen had acquired it.
