Javonta Darden

How they died

Deadly force

During a drug-related investigation that turned into a struggle, an ATF agent met with Steven Maurice McKinley, Dwight Heard Jr. and Javonta Terrell Darden to catch them in a drug/weapons sale. The ATF agent "was able to pull his service pistol and shoot Darden, who died from his injuries as the two fought. McKinley got hold of the agent's gun and, as B.A. ran for his life, McKinley shot at him, hitting him in the right shoulder. Other law enforcement agents quickly responded and took McKinley into custody. Heard, who had driven away without waiting for McKinley and Darden after hearing the shots and seeing the visibly injured agent stagger back toward the convenience store, was arrested later."

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Javonta Darden, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources