On a Friday afternoon in Roanoke, Virginia, the life of 26-year-old Dione Jamar Tayvon Thomas was tragically cut short. On September 24, 2010, police responded to a call on Hunt Avenue to find Thomas on the ground with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he died shortly after arriving. Thomas, a Black male who was affectionately known as "D" or "DJ," was originally from Paterson, New Jersey, and was born on February 17, 1984.
The
investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a suspect. The Roanoke Police Department identified 24-year-old Ricco Ramone Devin of Roanoke as the individual responsible for Thomas's death. In a swift operation, Devin was located and apprehended near Beckley, West Virginia, in the early hours of the day following the shooting. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Dione Thomas. The arrest brought a measure of resolution to the community as the case against Devin moved through the legal system.
