Fourteen-year-old Deanthony Vickers Jr., known to family as DJ, was shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on the afternoon of Monday, December 26, 2022, and died of his injuries two days later on December 28, 2022. A freshman and aspiring athlete at Carver High School, he was reportedly walking from his girlfriend’s house to his cousin’s on Park Towne Way when the shooting occurred.

The Montgomery Police Department opened a homicide investigation that led to the arrest of 18-year-old Demericon Crosskey of Montgomery, who was charged with murder and held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Facility. The victim’s father said he had known the suspect since he was a baby and expressed shock and confusion about the motive.

The community held a candlelight vigil and Deanthony’s funeral was held on January 7, 2023, at True Divine Baptist Church. If anyone knew Deanthony or has information about what happened that afternoon, please come forward.