Five months after Dayton double shooting, family of Dejuan Hooker awaits arrests as case remains unsolved

Case remains open more than 150 days after July 2024 killings

More than five months after a shooting left two people dead inside a vehicle on Dayton’s west side, the family of 25-year-old Dejuan L. Hooker says they are still waiting for accountability in a case that, publicly, remains without criminal charges.

Hooker and 18-year-old Damarius Underwood were pronounced dead at the scene on July 18, 2024, after a shooting that ended with a vehicle crash in the 4400 block of Hoover Avenue, according to local reporting and official county memorial documentation of 2024 homicide victims.

What is known about the incident timeline

Publicly available accounts of the initial response indicate police were dispatched on a report of a shooting and found the victims deceased in a vehicle that had crashed on Hoover Avenue. Details about the sequence of events before the crash remain limited in official public summaries.

Family statements shared in local coverage described a belief that a robbery attempt may have preceded the shootings and referenced an alleged “transaction” beforehand. Those elements have not been publicly confirmed in official statements released to date, and investigators have not announced an identified suspect or motive.

Family calls for information as no charges are announced

Hooker’s mother, Nichole Roberts, has urged anyone with information to come forward. She has said the lack of arrests has left the family in limbo, attempting to understand what happened and whether investigators have developed leads that could support prosecution.

The case also illustrates a common challenge in homicide investigations: families often learn key details only after an arrest, while investigators may limit disclosures to protect witness cooperation and preserve the integrity of potential charges.

Community impact and broader context

While Dayton police have reported shifts in overall crime levels from year to year, individual homicide cases can remain unresolved for extended periods, particularly when witnesses are reluctant to speak, surveillance coverage is incomplete, or ballistic and digital evidence does not immediately identify a shooter.

In this case, the lack of publicly filed charges months after the killings has heightened pressure from relatives who say they want clear answers about who was responsible and why the shooting happened.

How tips are typically handled in open homicide investigations

• Investigators commonly seek witnesses who were near the scene or had contact with the victims earlier that day.
• Detectives may rely on video footage, phone data and forensic evidence to reconstruct movements before the shooting.
• Anonymous tip lines can play a role when witnesses fear retaliation or do not want their identity disclosed publicly.

Families in unsolved homicide cases often emphasize that even small details—vehicles seen, conversations overheard, or social-media posts—can help investigators corroborate timelines and identify suspects.

As of the latest publicly available updates tied to this case, there has been no announced arrest or court filing naming a suspect in the deaths of Hooker and Underwood. The investigation remains open.