In the late summer evening of August 25, 2018, the community of Paulsboro, New Jersey, was shaken by the violent death of 21-year-old Davontae Randall. A Black/African American male and a former standout wrestler for Paulsboro High School, Randall was found with multiple gunshot wounds at a residence on West Buck Street around 6:45 p.m. He was rushed to Inspira Medical Center in Woodbury, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Randall's death quickly revealed that it was
not a random act of violence. Authorities learned that he had been involved in a physical altercation with a man he knew just before the shooting. This confrontation was preceded by a road rage incident a few days earlier, setting the stage for the fatal encounter. Witnesses reported seeing the shooter flee the scene on foot, sparking an intensive search by local and county law enforcement. The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office assured the public that there was no imminent danger to the community, as the suspect and victim were acquainted.
The man identified as the shooter was 20-year-old Anthony D. Kille. Following the incident, Kille went on the run but surrendered to the Atlantic City Police Department a few days later on August 28. He was subsequently charged with murder and weapons offenses. Kille, who had a prior criminal record, was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
In the end, justice for Davontae Randall came in the form of a lengthy prison sentence for his killer. A Superior Court jury found Anthony Kille guilty of aggravated manslaughter and related offenses. He was sentenced to 24 years in state prison for the shooting death of the young man, a soon-to-be-father whose promising future was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
