Two North Carolina men, including a rapper, will be spending the rest of their lives in federal prison for the 2019 killing of Z'yon Person.
Warning: Graphic content
A statement from the Department of Justice said that the life sentences were meted out on Oct. 4 to Antonio Nathaniel Davenport Jr., 27, and Derrick Lamont Dixon, Jr., 30. The statement said that both men were members of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips criminal street gang. The statement added that Davenport was also a member of the "Durham-based rap music group '83 Babies,' so named for the 'Eight Trey' Gangster Crips." According to the statement, the rap group promoted the "gang, rapping about gang life, gun violence, and drug distribution."
The statement further read that Person was killed when Davenport, who was seeking revenge against a rival gang whose members had assaulted him earlier, mistook the car he was being driven in for the vehicle owned by one of his attackers. At the time of his murder, Person, 9, was riding in his aunt's car with four other kids in North Durham. The six of them were on their way to get snow cones.
The statement said that Davenport followed the car down "Leon Street to the intersection at North Duke Street and slowed as he passed." It further said that he and Dixon opened fire on the car. They discharged at least "five 9 mm (millimeters) rounds and seventeen .40 caliber rounds, hitting the car multiple times." Two bullets struck the little boy in the head. He was instantly killed. His 8-year-old cousin was seated next to him, and was also struck by gunfire in the arm.
The statement said that at the time of the incident, Davenport was wearing a court-ordered "ankle monitor because of pending domestic violence charges." The location data placed him at the crime scene, and at Dixon's house before and after the shooting.
On May 11, 2021, Dixon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in acts of racketeering and commission of a violent crime that is murder in aid of racketeering, reported PEOPLE. As for Davenport, a jury found him guilty of three federal murder, gun and racketeering charges in July.
The News & Observer reported that during Davenport’s sentencing last week, he had to be removed from the courtroom as he cursed at a prosecutor. He also said that he didn’t commit a crime.
