On a summer evening in New Albany, Indiana, the life of a young, aspiring musician was tragically cut short. Desijuan Berry, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot and killed on July 4, 2022. The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. in the 1300 block of Bono Road. Berry had been at a cookout with friends before the fatal shooting.
Emergency services were called, and Berry, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance before arriving at the hospital. The sudden and violent nature of his death left his family and friends in a state of shock and profound grief. His mother, Misti Kidwell, was already grappling with her own recent experience of gun violence, having been shot four times in a domestic incident just months prior.
In the wake of the shooting, the New Albany Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to an arrest. Eighteen-year-old Nicholas Bowerman was taken into custody and charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with Berry's death. The motive for the shooting remained unclear to the public and to Berry's family, who did not know Bowerman and did not believe their son knew him either. Following his arrest, a public defender was appointed to represent Bowerman.
Desijuan, known to his loved ones as 'D.J.', was remembered as a sweet, loving, and energetic young man with a passion for creating music. A graduate of New Albany High School, he was actively pursuing his dreams as a rapper and musician. His family described him as someone who loved them deeply and would do anything to care for them. In their time of mourning, the community offered support, and a local funeral home stepped in to cover the costs of his funeral, easing a significant burden for his grieving family.
