On Thursday, April 30, 2015, Dorothy Turner Gross’ life changed forever. Her 20-year-old son Devonte Javon Turner was killed. He died of multiple gunshot wounds. “He was shot in the head and back,” shares Gross.
Turner was found in the parking lot of Wendy’s restaurant in Elgin, Illinois. He was pronounced dead at Presence Saint Joseph Hospital at 11:52 p.m., according to officials.
“I grew up there and had my kids there,” says Gross of Elgin, which is located northwest of Chicago.
Elgin Lt. Rick Ciganek confirmed to media the shooting wasn’t gang related.
Turner attended Larkin High School before his family moved to Warrenville, and he was on the wrestling team. He liked rap music and he and Devon would record music and upload it to YouTube.
Their father drowned in 2012. Gross has since remarried but she and her current husband separated after Devonte’s murder.
Gross shares more.
How is his father coping?
His dad drowned in 2012. We never recovered. I’m [re]married … and we separated after my son’s murder.
Do you know who killed your son? if yes, has that person gone to trial?
Yes, I know who murdered my son. His trial starts Sept. 6, 2016.
Why do you want to share your story?
I want people to know your son or child don’t have to be a drug dealer, gang banger, in-and-out of prison to be murdered or from Chicago. I want people to know the impact it has on you to have your child murdered.
What was your son’s dream?
My son’s dream was to make music and have his own studio.
Was his death preventable? Do you blame yourself?
It wasn’t preventable. I blame myself.
How do you cope?
I haven’t accepted his murder. I take sleeping pills, five at a time.
What are the names and ages of your other kids and how are they coping?
Jonathon, 26; Lashay, 24; Chevaneese, 22 and Devon, 21, Devonte’s twin are coping OK. They have learned to live with it. They know he’s not coming home.
William M. Ingram, 28, is facing three counts of first-degree murder. The judge agreed with the prosecution’s request for a $4 million bail based on Ingram’s criminal history and the nature of the charges. He is also being held on a $250,000 bail on a previous drug charge.
