Damartay R.J. Dejuan Bonner, a 23-year-old Black man, was shot during the evening of August 16, 2016, inside a residence in the Kanawha City section of Charleston, West Virginia. The shooting was reported at about 9:30 p.m. at a home on the 800 block of 57th Street (one report giving 803 57th Street). Bonner was found in the living room and was pronounced dead the following morning, August 17.

Investigators quickly focused on James J.J. Bennett III of Charleston. According to the criminal complaint, Bonner and Bennett had been sitting across from one another shortly before the gunfire. A witness said they later saw Bennett holding a handgun and standing over Bonner’s body, that Bennett waved or pointed the weapon and ordered the witness back into another room, then prodded Bonner’s body with the gun while demanding to know where something was before leaving. Police arrested Bennett a short time later near Hillcrest Drive and Costello Street and initially charged him with murder. Prosecutors said they had identified a specific motive tied to heroin sales but did not disclose it publicly; detectives indicated they had witnesses and did not expect additional arrests.

If anyone knew Bonner, where he lived, worked, or spent time in Charleston or Detroit, what can be added to the record?