A Houston man has been handed a multi-decade prison sentence after killing an 11-year-old boy in the crossfire of an unrelated violent robbery.
Daveyonne Howard, 22, pleaded guilty to murder for killing 11-year-old Darius “D.J.” Dugas at his apartment complex in northeast Harris County on Feb. 3, 2022.
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He was sentenced to 40 years behind bars.
The shooting happened at around 7 p.m., during an unusual winter storm in the Houston area. Howard was in the complex’s parking lot breaking into a man’s car to steal his wallet. The man caught him in the act and chased him to try to get the wallet back. Howard pulled out a pistol and opened fire.
As this was happening, Dugas had walked outside to get his jacket out of his family’s car. He found himself between Howard and the other man and was shot in the chest. Howard took off.
Dugas was rushed to the hospital where he died.
Howard was arrested and charged with murder days later and pleaded guilty earlier this year.
After the sentencing, Dugas’ mother, Brenetta Francis said she approved of the 40-year punishment for Howard, although it will never make what he did right.
“I believe it was fair. No amount of time will bring D.J. back, but I do feel that justice was served today.”
Carina Batista, who works in the Crimes Against Children Division of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted Howard, said his actions before the shooting showed a disregard for children’s safety and contributed to his sentence.
“Before the shooting, this defendant was out burglarizing vehicles, so we thought a lengthy sentence was appropriate and justice was done,” Batista said. “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.”