Durron Degroot

Durron James Allen Degroot was a 23-year-old Black man from Hammond, Indiana, described by those who loved him as a "good funny dude." Known to friends and family as "DMan" or "Bubby," he was a son, a brother, and the father of one child. His life was cut short in an encounter that began as a small drug deal.

On the afternoon of August 6, 2022, Durron went to the Kwik Mart at 4203 Hohman Avenue in Hammond to buy $20 worth of marijuana. While on a FaceTime call with a witness just before the meeting, he expressed a growing unease, repeatedly saying, "I hope I’m not getting set up." Just before 5 p.m., he met two individuals in the alley behind the convenience store. Security footage showed Durron appearing to exchange something with one of them when he was shot once in the head. The Lake County Coroner's Office later ruled his death a homicide.

The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify two suspects from Chicago: DeWayne Duncan, who was 17 at the time, and his co-defendant, Javonta Williams. According to court records, the drug deal had been arranged via text message with Duncan’s uncle, who sent Duncan to make the sale. Duncan was later arrested in Chicago and extradited to Lake County, Indiana, to face charges.

Duncan was charged with two counts of murder and one count of robbery, while Williams was also charged in connection with the fatal shooting. Duncan pleaded not guilty, and his case proceeded to trial in Lake County.

The trial began, but it came to an abrupt halt in August 2026 when a juror suffered a medical emergency during testimony. The judge was forced to declare a mistrial. As of August 2026, the case remains in litigation, with a retrial for DeWayne Duncan scheduled.