Derontae Kashaun-Mylik Martin, a 19-year-old Black man and former high school football player, was found dead on April 25, 2021, at a rural residence near Fredericktown, Missouri, after attending an 18th birthday party at the home of James Wade. A gunshot was heard during the early morning hours and Martin’s body was discovered in the house attic. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and local coroner initially reported the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Martin’s family and community members disputed that finding, citing his right arm in a cast from a recent fracture and the homeowner’s history of displaying Confederate flags and sharing racially offensive material. A privately hired pathologist concluded the fatal shot was fired from two to three feet away, which the family said made a self-inflicted wound unlikely. A July 2021 coroner’s inquest jury rejected the suicide finding and determined the death resulted from violence, prompting state and federal review. No arrests were made in connection with Martin’s death; the FBI later announced it found no evidence of a hate crime or homicide and supported the original conclusion, but the family continues to contest that ruling.

Are there anyone who attended that party or lived nearby who can help clarify what happened that night?