Raymone Gutter

Raymone Gutter, a 32-year-old Black man with a lifelong passion for music, was known in his community of Canton, Mississippi, as the rapper “Ray Gutta.” His sister, Hardashsi Stanford, recalled that he had been rapping since he was about eight years old, often practicing in the shower or the tub. Family was central to his life, and loved ones remembered him as a doting father who, despite what others might think, was a good and loving parent to his children. His cousins described a close-knit family and recalled his playful nature. Gutter was also known for being very outspoken, a man who always said what was on his mind. In the months before his death, he had been released from prison after serving time for a gun and drug charge and was focused on getting his life back on track and pursuing his music.

The final day of his life began on Sunday, July 26, 2020. Around noon, Gutter was at the West North Market in Canton. Surveillance video from inside the store showed him in a seemingly calm conversation with another man. According to the Canton Police, an argument started between the two men inside the market. When they went outside, the disagreement escalated to gunfire. Witnesses reported hearing as many as ten shots, causing chaos as people ran for cover. Gutter was struck in the groin, the bullet hitting a main artery. He collapsed in a ditch across the street from the market, losing a shoe as he tried to escape his attacker.

Paramedics first rushed Gutter to Merit Health Madison before he was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Doctors informed his family that he had lost a significant amount of blood and his prognosis was not good. Despite the efforts of surgeons, Raymone Gutter died from his injuries the following day, Monday, July 27, 2020. The trail of blood outside the convenience store was a stark reminder of the brazen daylight violence that had shaken the neighborhood. Canton Police Chief Otha Brown noted that the area was not known for high crime, making a shooting at that time of day particularly surprising to residents.

The investigation quickly focused on the man seen with Gutter in the store's surveillance footage. The Canton Police Department identified him as 27-year-old Devonte Xavier Johnson and named him a person of interest. Two days after the shooting, on Tuesday, July 28, Johnson turned himself in to the authorities. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder in connection with Raymone Gutter's death.

In the wake of the tragedy, Gutter's family and friends gathered to honor his memory. They organized a candlelight vigil on Friday, July 31, at the Canton Multipurpose Complex. It was a moment for the community to remember the man they knew as a loving father and a passionate artist. His family spoke of the deep loss they felt, missing the close bond they shared and the simple moments of spending time together. The vigil was a testament to the life he had lived and the many people he had touched.

Following the arrest and murder charge brought against Devonte Xavier Johnson in July 2020, the case proceeded into the legal system. However, public records and subsequent news reports do not provide information on the outcome of the charges. Details regarding a trial, plea, or conviction have not been made available. As of late 2020, the case against the man charged with killing Raymone Gutter remained without a public resolution, leaving his family and community still waiting for the final chapter of justice to be written.