A 22-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars for the murder of an 11-year-old boy. According to a statement from Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, the sentencing was handed down on Wednesday after the man, Daveyonne Howard, pleaded guilty earlier this year. “Our hearts go out to the family because there is absolutely no reason that a little boy should lose his life by just stepping outside of his home,” Ogg said in a statement obtained by Harris County District Attorney's Office.
The incident took place on February 3, 2022, around 7 p.m. during a winter storm at the boy's apartment complex in northeast Harris County. It was reported that Howard, while attempting to escape after being confronted for allegedly breaking into a car and stealing a wallet, fired his weapon at the man following him to retrieve his wallet. Darius “DJ” Dugas, the young victim, was inadvertently caught in the crossfire and was fatally struck in the chest. Howard subsequently fled the scene, only to be arrested days later on a charge of murder.
Harris County deputies responded to the incident, and DJ was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital where he was ultimately pronounced dead. The case has brought attention to the impact of gun violence, especially when innocent bystanders, including a child, are affected. Howard will be required to serve at least 20 years of his sentence before he's eligible for parole.
Assistant District Attorneys Brett Batchelor and Carina Batista prosecuted Howard, highlighting the risks of gun violence in public spaces. "He was just shooting in an apartment complex, right in front of a playground, and this could have been anyone’s child. DJ just got caught in the middle," Batchelor told the Harris County District Attorney's Office. The outcome of the case was influenced by Howard's previous criminal history, which contributed to the severity of the sentencing decision. “Before the shooting, this defendant was out burglarizing vehicles, so we thought a lengthy sentence was appropriate and justice was done," said Batista.
