Deshun Johnson, an 18-year-old African-American man remembered by a friend as funny and caring, attended Senn High School in Chicago. His friend, Roland Watkins, said Deshun “loved to chill with his homies and laugh and have a good time,” and “cared for the people that were around him.” Having turned 18 just two months before his death, Deshun was known to local officials, who considered him at high risk for violence. Uptown Alderman James Cappleman stated he had spoken with Deshun many times and that the young man had received a “custom notification,” an intervention strategy aimed at steering youth away from danger. Sources indicated that Deshun was a member of the Hoola Gang, a faction of the Black P-Stones street gang.
On the evening of November 13, 2017, Deshun’s life was cut short by a burst of gunfire in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Shortly after 6:00 p.m., he was standing on the sidewalk in the 1200 block of West Leland Avenue when a group of individuals approached and began shooting. The street was left littered with more than 30 shell casings from at least two different caliber firearms, stretching across two city blocks. Deshun was struck multiple times, including in the chest. First responders rushed him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m.
The Chicago Police Department launched an investigation into the brazen homicide. Witnesses described one of the shooters as a male between 15 and 17 years old, dressed in dark clothing, who fled the scene on foot. Detectives worked the case for months, eventually breaking through what they described as the "don't snitch" culture to identify a suspect.
In April 2018, authorities arrested 27-year-old Keith Hayer, a local rapper also known as “Bang Da Hitta.” Hayer was charged with first-degree murder. At his bond hearing, prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office laid out the motive, describing the murder as a targeted, gang-related attack. They stated that Hayer was a member of the Insane Cutthroat Gangsters, a rival gang to the Black P-Stones. On the night of the shooting, Hayer was allegedly alerted that members of the Black P-Stones were broadcasting live on Facebook from the Leland Avenue location.
According to prosecutors, Hayer and other members of his gang went to the area and opened fire on Deshun. Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer McCarty told the court that after Deshun fell to the ground from the initial volley, Hayer walked closer and continued to fire. An autopsy revealed Deshun had been shot nine times, with wounds to his chest, neck, and hip. Hayer was subsequently ordered held without bail.
Following his arrest, Keith Hayer faced a lengthy legal process. His lawyer expressed surprise at the charges, noting that Hayer had recently signed a management deal and moved to start a new life. Despite the charges and the evidence presented by the prosecution, the case took an unexpected turn. According to a report from April 2024, Keith Hayer was ultimately not convicted in Deshun Johnson's murder and was paroled in 2022. As of that report, the murder of Deshun Johnson remains legally unresolved.
