On February 25, 2021, the community of Cumberland, Indiana, near Indianapolis, was shaken by the violent death of 21-year-old Dae'Vion Pullum, a Black male who was discovered deceased in the parking lot of the Elmtree Park Apartments. The young man had been the victim of a fatal shooting, having sustained two gunshot wounds—one to his arm and another to his torso.
The discovery was made by a resident of the apartment complex who was returning home from work and stumbled upon the tragic scene, immediately alerting emergency services.
Investigators arriving at the location found a puzzling array of evidence that pointed toward a possible motive but left many questions unanswered. While Pullum's wallet and cellular phone were missing, suggesting a robbery, other valuable items were strangely left behind. Police noted that his Nintendo Switch remained at the scene, along with one of his wheat-colored Timberland boots, painting a chaotic picture of his final moments. The Cumberland Police Department took charge of the case, processing the scene for clues that might explain why the young man, described by his family as the 'glue' that held them together, was targeted.
Despite the initial gathering of evidence and the pursuit of various leads, the case quickly proved difficult to solve. Police Chief Suzanne Woodland publicly stated that while detectives were working diligently to develop suspects, the investigation yielded no immediate arrests. Authorities considered robbery as a leading theory due to the missing personal effects, yet the specific circumstances of the encounter remained unclear. For a significant period following the homicide, it stood as the only unsolved murder case in Cumberland from that year, leaving investigators to rely heavily on the hope that someone within the community would come forward with critical information.
In the years following the tragedy, no suspects have been formally charged, and the murder of Dae'Vion Pullum remains unsolved. His family, particularly his mother Betty Davis, has continued to advocate for justice, canvassing the neighborhood with flyers and urging witnesses to speak up. The grief-stricken mother, who carries her son's ashes in a necklace close to her heart, has publicly expressed her belief that her son likely knew his killer. As of the last major public appeals for information, law enforcement has yet to apprehend the individual or individuals responsible for ending Dae'Vion's life, and the investigation remains open.
