A South Carolina fugitive accused of killing his ex-girlfriend “execution-style” at her Queens home was ordered held without bail during a Thursday court appearance, where the mother of the slain 21-year-old said he showed “no remorse” for the tragic killing.
De’Ovryion Elijha Ray, 23, was arraigned on second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges at Queens Supreme Criminal Court for fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Dashanna Donovan, on Sept. 12, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced in a statement.
Ray pleaded not guilty to the “execution style” killing of Donovan, 21, and was ordered held without bail by Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant, according to prosecutors and court records.
The alleged killer, who hails from Simpsonville, showed “no remorse” during the court hearing, Donovan’s mother, Helena Hypolite, who was inside the courtroom, told The Post.
“He showed no remorse, nothing. It just had me boiling, profusely angry,” Hypolite said.
The grieving mother said Ray exchanged fervent glances with her throughout the proceeding, and nodded to her when she stood up after he was brought into the courtroom.
“When they brought him in, I stood up and he looked at me and nodded. When they were taking him out, he looked at me and nodded again. To me, it’s like he was saying, ‘Now what?” Hypolite said..
“I was full of rage. My blood was boiling,” she added.
Ray was first arrested in South Carolina on Oct. 7 and extradited to New York to face murder charges, authorities said.
The accused murderer was tight-lipped and avoided eye contact as cops escorted him out of the 115th precinct in navy pants, red sneakers, a grey quarter-cip sweatshirt, and handcuffs before his arraignment.
Ray allegedly traveled by bus from Virginia Beach, Virginia to New York City on the day of Donovan’s murder. He then took a subway from Manhattan to Queens and approached Donovan’s East Elmhurst home on 96th Street by roughly 9 p.m., according to prosecutors.
Donovan was in her backyard when a motion light turned on in the alleyway. She looked down the alleyway and appeared to recognize the person walking toward her.
The 21-year-old — who moved to the Big Apple just six months before to escape an abusive relationship with Ray — then screamed and ran into her apartment.
Ray ran around the corner of the house while wielding a gun and pointed it in the direction of Donovan as he entered the home.
Police found her lying near the doorframe of her bathroom with gunshot wounds to her head and torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
After gunning down Donovan, Ray fled to Virginia Beach that same night, officials alleged.
“This was a calculated, cold-blooded murder of a young woman who was running for her life when she was gunned down,” DA Katz said in a statement.
“As alleged, the defendant traveled to New York, killed the victim and fled the state mere hours after the murder in a tragic case of domestic violence,” Katz added.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones as we seek justice. My office worked hand in hand with South Carolina officials to ensure that the defendant was extradited to New York to face the indictment charges.”
If convicted, Ray faces up to 25 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.
He will return to court on March 6.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
The post South Carolina fugitive showed ‘no remorse’ for ‘execution style’ NYC shooting of ex-girlfriend: victim’s mother appeared first on New York Post.
