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Date Posted: 00:08:01 03/01/08 Sat
Author: State Gazette
Subject: Three charged for woman's murder

Three charged for woman's murder
Friday, February 29, 2008
Two suspects are being held on first-degree murder charges in the Wednesday night shooting death of a Newbern woman.

A third person, also charged, has not been apprehended.

Colton Dequan Whitelow, 18, 366 Cherry Dale, Halls, is in the Dyer County Jail without bond. He is charged with with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and evading arrest.

Davonta Duffie, 15, 9580 2nd St., Gates, is in The McDowell Center for Children. He is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated assault.

Darnell Madison, 19, 310 Country Dr., Ripley, is wanted as a suspect in the murder, but has not turned himself in or been arrested, said Newbern Police Department investigator Greg Barr.

The three are wanted for the shooting death of Tamara Brown, 20, 401 N. Grayson St.

Barr said the department has been able to begin to piece together the events that led to the death of Brown, who was seven months pregnant, and the shooting injury to her boyfriend, 42-year-old Donald Lee Wilkes, 215 Jones St.

The altercation stemmed from an argument earlier Wednesday afternoon over Newbern women associating with Ripley men, said Barr.

"When it came to round two, the Ripley folks squared off on the north end [of Grayson Street] and the Newbern side was on the south side. There was a lot of verbal altercations, and as it became more heated, it became physical and they started to fight. Then the shots were fired."

Witness statements and several recovered bullet casings show the Ripley suspects continued shooting into the crowd as they ran away.

Bullets were recovered in two nearby apartments and in the trunk of Wilkes's car.

Doctors attempted an emergency C-section on Brown to deliver the baby. The autopsy report said the "child ... was believed to be alive at birth but expired shortly thereafter."
© Copyright 2008, Dyersburg State Gazette
Story URL: http://www.stategazette.com/story/1314911.html

Comments
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In my comment I was referring to *why* strictly hypothetically. we all wonder at the time of a tragedy why did this or that happen. Anger floods us and we have to blame something. Its eaiser to be angry and cover up the awful feelings of what has happened, than it is to be honest with ourselves and admit the truth of the reality.

myjoy3. I have no doubts at all that her boyfriend loved her very much and did everything in his power to help her. it was not my intent to say likewise.

1*. Cleaning up has to start before it becomes a community problem. Cleaning up the communities only moves the problem somewhere else. It will eventually return. probally not in my life time but very possible in my childrens and definitely in my Grand childrens lives and communities, wherever that may be. People of all ages need knowledge of and how to prevent a problem. The very future of civilization depends on it. We must work to create, or to apply solutions to problems for everyone. Not just us.
-- Posted by jlbd5g on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 11:42 PM

To dalejr I was there while this young lady laid in blood the two police officers were there while this young lady laid there in her blood and since you say the area was unsecure I was there and if the police thought it was unsafe do you think they would have let me thru and kneel down and pray beside this young lady now YOU USE YOUR HEAD and think about what you said. You weren't there I was. And to jlbd5g the boyfriend wanted to move her and the officers told him that he couldn't move her I was there beside him when he wanted to. And to the one that ask the question why the police were not called when the crowd gathered around my brother went to the police station himself not call but went there and couldn't get anyone to answer the phone nor come to the door now that's a question that you can call and ask them. And yes I do beleive that if the first responders were called they would have came but why send the calls to Dyersburg if you have a police station in Newbern that don't make sense to me. And the last thing if the police didn't have the road block off when I came thru and was able to park in a driveway not even 20 feet where this young lady lie why couldn't the first responders do the same because I made it to the scene before them and when he got there he had to run from his vehcile which was more than about 50 feet if you ever want to know where he had to run from let me know and I will be more than glad to show you.
-- Posted by myjoy3 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 10:41 PM

Why did the police allow this? Why were the paramedics slow to enter? Wake up folks, don't blame everyone else for something these folks brought on themselves. If a crowd of angry people wanting to fight show up on my doorstep i ain't going out to fight with them, my butt is staying in the house. I didn't see the cops down there passing out guns or giving shooting lessons so you cant say they let it happen. They came when they were called and everyone left the first time. When they came back, why didn't the cops get a second call before the shooting started? And as far as the paramedics go, I believe the cops were still trying to locate the shooters who ran off, so they wont enter a hot spot like that. When they know they can enter and be safe then they will. A community is only as strong as its weakest member. We have to clean out our own neighborhoods, we live there the cops don't.
-- Posted by 1* on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 7:59 PM

Tragedies like this seem to happen way to much. We all want to why? Why did the police allow this? Why did the paramedics have to go through what they did? Why didn't someone take it upon themselves to rush the victim to the hospital? Why couldn't we get the help we needed when we needed it? How could God allow this horriable event to even happen? Why? Why? Why?

We are human beings; we are not perfect and we make mistakes. God is perfect and never makes mistakes. Being human we are prone to many,many destructive things that if allowed to be part of our life, will consume us. It's all about choices. However everyone does not always get what the need in the time of their life, what they need to live as responsible, productive members of society. That is also by someones choice.

Television, music, peers etc. can bombard me with what I am supposed to look like, act like, and be like. Suggesting that it is some kinda un-acceptable reality to just be me. My self-esteem would be non exsistent. I would have to take "orders" form someones words or what some rich, glorified performer's ( who's self-esteem is also non-exsistent) suggestion on how I should live my life! My so called life would grow very shallow very fast. I would have to do what ever it took to stop the pain. In that frame of mine I would definetly be prone to make the wrong choice.
-- Posted by jlbd5g on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 5:17 PM

I hope justice is finally served with this KID!! And I take back what I said before.. he does not deserve prison.He does not derserve to have any kind of life.. he took my brother's life,shot my dad, killed this woman and her baby. Oh and shot her boyfriend.. Now if something is not done this time I don't know what to think about Tennessee's laws!!My prayers go out to this girl's family and friends. I know how hard this is. It's something that will be with you for the rest of your life!!! The only thing you can do is keep on going and praying!!
-- Posted by lucky1 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 4:00 PM

Just to clear this up about the reason why the first responders and ambulance were delayed on getting on the scene is because the police department HAD to secure the scene. Neither the first responders or the ambulance service will enter an un-secure scene without law enforcment first securing the scene. Why would they want to enter a un-secure scene and take a chance on getting involved in the cross-fire. Call them and ask them. They will tell you the same.... And 911 consolidation would not have made a difference. USE YOUR HEAD. I tell you what.. I will do ya one even better. drive an ambulance See if you would want to enter an un-secure scene where shots are being fired. Everytime something is not done just perfect, Someone is quick to judge, Pin on a badge... Its that simple
-- Posted by DaleJr on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 4:00 PM

The Rescue Squad Has a Ambulance in Newbern for use in disasters and community events. The First Responders Are there for the community but were not contacted so they could not make the scene. It was not there fault and are there to assist in most any type of situations and are trained to do a variety of different complex situations.Please do not think that they would not assist if they were contacted. I have known many of them for several years and they dedicate more time in training than most full time departments and they pay for that training sometimes in the hundreds of dollars themselves out of their own pockets because they are dedicated individuals. They spend many of hours and money to serve the community but cannot if they are not contacted.
-- Posted by gottcha on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 3:50 PM

lucky1 Ur very right he doesnt deserve more but do u know that inmates in prison have more rights than we do on these streets just think they got school, food, warm places to lay there heads at night, and they dont have to pay a dime for it.. And they can still see their family on the weekends but the twos lives that were taken will never get to see their families again.. All because of this KID with a gun.. This kid doesnt even deserve prison.. He has killed three inicent people all together.. Arwood, Brown, and Browns unborn child.. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Arwood family and Brown family.. Hopefully with this last incident they will bring charges back from his last MURDER of Arwood..
-- Posted by dc_pride on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 2:00 PM

Has anyone realized that this is the same 15 year old that shot the Soldier home from Iraq in December. He got off on that one. Now here he is again. Yea, our government really straigtened him up didn't they,,,,really taught him a lesson.
-- Posted by tngirl1965 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 1:51 PM

Has anyone realized that the 15 year old, Davonta Duffie, is the same kid who shot the boy in Halls that was home from Iraq in December? Wonder if he will get away with this too?
-- Posted by tngirl1965 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 1:38 PM

When I heard about this I could not believe it. This is beyond sickening to me. The same fifteen year old kid shot my brother from halls. It seems to me that apparently there is something wrong with this kid. I know the bible says we are not suppose to hate but this situation is hard. I hope and pray that he will be charged as an adult and sits in prison for the rest of his life. He deserves nothing more.
-- Posted by lucky1 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 1:27 PM

In my opinion five lives have been destroyed. The pregnant mother, her unborn child and three wayward young men who will end up in a gang in prison or dead. I am sure that our justice system will find a way of keeping them from the death penalty. The parents of these boys have to feel terrible but I bet that they are also asking what they could have done different. Parents of teenagers; do you know where your children will be tonight? It is O.K. to be a parent and say "NO" to your children.
-- Posted by tnman on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 11:19 AM

911 consolidation would have solved this problem.
-- Posted by imation on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 11:01 AM

I would like to add to the comments. The question I have is why do we have a Rescue Squad in Newbern with an ambulance and they did not come to the scene. And the 911 system was directing all of the calls to the Dyer County Sheriff department. I was on my home from church in Dyersburg when my son called and said don't come on Grayson because there shooting I went a different way and when I made it to the scene there was two offiers who was there but no first responders and no ambulance I know that the calls went out because my son was one of the first was to call it was on tape. I was there about 9:07 and when the ambulance came was after 9:21 so what was the promblem with them making and when the first responder made it he had to run from his vechicle because the police had the road block on both ends of the street and then when the paramedics came they had to wait for them to move there vechicle to make it through. I beleive that it the paramedics and first responders had made it there a little quicker the baby life may have been saved. And to let you know what time my call came thru 9:00 it was made to my cell phone.
-- Posted by myjoy3 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 10:37 AM

My heart goes out to the families involved in this terrible event. Two lives lost over the males being territorial ? SENSELESS!!!!!!

My prayers are with the families, and may justice prevail in convicting these men. Maybe they can use their testosterone in prison to protect themselves from becoming a sex slave when the other prisoners find out a baby was killed because of them!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Posted by opinionated on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 9:02 AM

WHy were they not charged with the murder of the child??????
-- Posted by tata720 on Fri, Feb 29, 2008, at 8:14 AM

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