Dawan Trotter

Dawan Trotter, a 25-year-old African-American man, was remembered by friends and family as a good man, father, and friend who was quick to laugh and always willing to help. He was quiet when first entering a room but would quickly join a conversation, always smiling and respectful. A friend recalled how protective Dawan was of his brother, with whom he was "stuck like glue." At the time of his death, he was working in construction. Dawan was the father to a daughter, who was 15 years old in 2022. He also left behind his parents and two siblings. His family remembers him as a sweetheart whose presence is sorely missed. His mother, Michelle Hagans, and stepfather, Bishop Will Hagans Jr., who are both pastors, said that Dawan’s own faith had been important to him. Just a week before he died, he had given his life to the Lord, a memory that brought his family comfort.

On the morning of Friday, April 11, 2014, the Cincinnati Police Department received a call around 6 a.m. about a person down in the Westwood neighborhood. Officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Worthington Avenue, where they made a grim discovery. In the front yard of a residence, they found Dawan Trotter. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was the 20th homicide in Cincinnati that year and the 29th in the wider eight-county region. Later that same day, a second fatal shooting occurred just a few hundred feet away on Percy Avenue, deepening the community's sense of shock and loss.

The Cincinnati Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into Dawan’s death. Detectives from the criminal investigation section canvassed the area for evidence and witnesses, but no information about a possible suspect was immediately available. The police department released Dawan's photo and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. Despite their efforts, the case quickly went cold, leaving a void in the lives of his loved ones and a lingering question in the community.

Years after the shooting, no arrests have been made, and Dawan Trotter's murder remains an unsolved tragedy. The case is one of many cold cases on the files of the Cincinnati Police Department. For Dawan's family, the passage of time has not eased the pain of their loss. His mother and stepfather have spoken publicly about their enduring grief and their hope for justice. "It is one of the most horrifying, horrific experiences a parent can ever have," his stepfather, Bishop Will Hagans Jr., said in 2022, eight years after the murder.

His mother, Michelle, often wonders about the life her son would have lived. "He would be 34 this year. Would he be married? Would he be living in Cincinnati? How many kids would he have? What would his career have been like by now?" she shared. The trauma of his death was so profound that at one point, she didn't want to live, but her faith helped her persevere. Every new homicide reported in the city is a painful reminder of their own loss and the answers they are still desperately seeking. "I don’t want to see any parent have to go through this because it never leaves you," Bishop Hagans said. "You learn to live with it. You never get over it."

A funeral service for Dawan was held on Saturday, April 19, 2014, at the Next Dimension Family Worship Center, followed by his burial at Vine Street Hill Cemetery. Friends and family shared memories on a tribute wall, recalling his sense of humor and his kind, protective nature. One friend wrote, "He was one person I could count on to make me laugh when everything was going wrong." An aunt expressed her heartbreak, writing, "everyone keeps saying hes in a better place I would rather have my nephew here just to hug him just to hear him say my name."

As of April 2022, Dawan Trotter's case remains open and unsolved. His family continues to plead for anyone with information to come forward, no matter how insignificant it may seem. The Cincinnati Police Department and Crime Stoppers are still seeking tips from the public. A reward is available for information that helps solve the case. Anyone with information is urged to call the Cincinnati Police's criminal investigation section at 513-352-3542 or to report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.