South Carolina fugitive showed ‘no remorse’ for the ‘execution style’ NYC shooting of ex-girlfriend: victim’s mother
De’Ovryion Elijha Ray, a 23-year-old fugitive from South Carolina, appeared in Queens Supreme Criminal Court on Thursday for the alleged “execution-style” killing of his ex-girlfriend, 21-year-old Dashanna Donovan. Ray was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Despite pleading not guilty, he was ordered to be held without bail by Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant.
During the court appearance, Donovan’s mother, Helena Hypolite, expressed her outrage at Ray’s lack of remorse for the tragic killing of her daughter. She described how Ray exchanged glances with her and nodded as if to taunt her, further fueling her anger.
Ray was arrested in South Carolina on October 7 and extradited to New York to face the murder charges. He was escorted to court in handcuffs, dressed in navy pants, red sneakers, and a grey quarter-zip sweatshirt. Prosecutors revealed that Ray had traveled from Virginia Beach to New York City on the day of Donovan’s murder, taking a subway to Queens where he approached her home in East Elmhurst.
Donovan, who had moved to New York to escape an abusive relationship with Ray, was in her backyard when she saw him approaching. She ran into her apartment, but Ray followed her with a gun and shot her multiple times. Despite efforts to escape, Donovan succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
After the shooting, Ray fled to Virginia Beach the same night. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the murder as a “calculated, cold-blooded” act of domestic violence. She emphasized the collaborative efforts between New York and South Carolina officials to bring Ray to justice.
If convicted, Ray faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is scheduled to return to court on March 6 for further proceedings. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is affected by such issues, the National Domestic Violence Hotline offers support and resources.
