A man was shot to death before dawn near a busy stretch of Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee, and more than three weeks later, deputies still don't know who pulled the trigger. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigators are now publicly appealing for tips as the case remains open, with a cash reward on the table for anyone who comes forward.
Deputies Found Depperman Near the Intersection's Northwest Corner
Emergency calls reporting gunfire near Southern Boulevard and D Road brought deputies to the scene around 1:30 a.m. on July 30, according to The Boca Raton Tribune. Deputies arriving on scene found an adult male, later identified as John Michael Depperman, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds near the northwest corner of the intersection, the paper reported. WPEC, citing the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, similarly reports that Depperman was shot and killed near the northwest corner of the intersection, though that station's account places the shooting around midnight rather than 1:30 a.m. — a discrepancy in timing that has not been resolved between the two outlets' reporting.
Southern Boulevard, also known as State Road 80 and US Route 98, is a major east-west artery through central Palm Beach County that carries roughly 35,000 vehicle trips a day, according to Atlantic Land Companies. That volume of traffic, even in the middle of the night, gives investigators a reason to hope that passing motorists or late-night commuters near D Road may have seen something useful to the case.
No Suspect, No Motive Identified
The Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Division has assigned Detective Hall to lead the homicide investigation, and authorities say both the identity of the shooter and a motive for the killing remain undetermined, per the Tribune's reporting. As of the station's report, WPEC states that PBSO is directing anyone with information to contact Detective Hall directly at 561-688-4020, or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-8477.
Callers to Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County will remain anonymous, PBSO says, and those with information are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000. The organization's own procedures back that up: tipsters are assigned a unique numerical code number and can collect reward money anonymously at secure locations without ever providing personal identification or appearing in court, according to Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County.
Other Ways to Reach Investigators
Beyond phoning Detective Hall or Crime Stoppers, the Sheriff's Office also accepts anonymous tips through the “See Something” feature on its mobile app at pbsoapp.com, per the Tribune's account. Florida residents can also dial **TIPS from a mobile device under the state's TIPS program, which automatically routes callers to their local Crime Stoppers line and sends a text link to download the P3 Tips app, according to My Florida Legal. The statewide shortcut was built to streamline anonymous reporting across all 67 Florida counties.
The case underscores the law enforcement setup in western Palm Beach County. Loxahatchee and the neighboring Town of Loxahatchee Groves don't operate their own municipal police departments; both contract directly with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for patrol and investigative services, according to the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. That arrangement puts PBSO's Violent Crimes Division, which handles homicides and felony assaults throughout the unincorporated county, squarely in charge of solving Depperman's killing.
A Community Familiar With High-Profile Investigations
This is not the first time Loxahatchee has been the site of a major PBSO case. In April 2025, the Sheriff's Office and the FBI arrested a 22-year-old Loxahatchee resident after seizing an arsenal of 18 firearms, 12,000 rounds of ammunition, and law enforcement uniforms in an alleged mass shooting plot, WLRN reported at the time. Hoodline has also previously reported on a camper-home stabbing arrest in the area, part of a string of violent-crime cases PBSO has handled in the semi-rural community.
For Depperman's family, state-funded resources exist beyond the criminal investigation itself. The Sheriff's Office maintains a Victim/Witness Assistance Program with advocates in the Violent Crimes Division who help homicide survivors navigate the criminal justice process and file for victim compensation, according to My Florida Legal. For now, as reported by WPEC, the investigation into what happened near Southern Boulevard and D Road continues, with detectives still hoping someone comes forward with the missing piece.
