St. Augustine, FL – Earlier this month, we responded to the area W 13th Street and S St. Johns Street in reference to a subject being shot.
Upon arriving, deputies made contact with the victim who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Prior to being transported by Fire Rescue, the victim named a suspect responsible for the shooting.
An investigation immediately began. Detectives along with Crime Scene Technicians gathered evidence and canvassed the area interviewing witnesses. Through investigative efforts and positive identification from the victim, it was determined that the suspect was Devontae Lee Durden. In coordination with the State Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was issued.
The whereabouts of Mr. Durden at the time of the incident however remained unknown. Through collaborative efforts with SJSO detectives and the Intelligence Unit, the location of Mr. Durden was later identified. On July 22nd, with the assistance of the Sioux City Police Department and the U.S. Marshals, Mr. Durden was arrested and is awaiting extradition back to Florida where he will face three felony convictions.
“I would like to give special recognition to the talented intelligence analysts who serve our community at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Their diligence in this investigation led to key information confirming Mr. Durden’s location to be in South Dakota,” Sheriff Hardwick said. “This case demonstrates that if you commit a violent crime in St. Johns County, we will find you no matter how far you try to run and ensure justice is served.”