Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that De’Ovryion Elijha Ray was extradited to New York and arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Dashanna Donovan. The victim, Ray’s ex-girlfriend, was found shot dead inside her basement apartment in East Elmhurst on September 12, 2025.

The defendant allegedly traveled from Virginia to New York on the day of the murder and fled New York immediately following the killing. He was apprehended October 7 in South Carolina and refused to waive extradition. A governor’s warrant was obtained to secure the defendant’s return.

District Attorney Katz said: “This was a calculated, cold-blooded murder of a young woman who was running for her life when she was gunned down. 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. 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.”

Ray, 23, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, was arraigned today before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Justice Pandit-Durant ordered the defendant to return to court on March 6. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on September 12, at approximately 9 p.m., Donovan was in the backyard of her home on 96^th Street in East Elmhurst when a motion light turned on in the alleyway. The victim looked down the alleyway and appeared to recognize the individual who was walking toward her.

Donovan screamed and ran into her apartment. The defendant, wearing a navy blue hoodie, dark pants, and a mask covering the lower half of his face, as well as a single glove, ran around the corner of the house while displaying what appeared to be a gun. He allegedly pointed the firearm in the direction of the victim and entered the home.

The police were called and first responders found the victim lying near the doorframe of her bathroom with gunshot wounds to her head and torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators recovered five shell casings within the home, two fired bullets and six bullet fragments.

Records indicate that the defendant took a bus from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to New York, arriving in Manhattan at approximately 6:30 p.m. on the day of the murder. From there, the defendant allegedly took the subway to Queens and walked to the victim’s home. He returned to Virginia Beach later that same night.

On October 7, Ray was arrested in South Carolina on unrelated charges and detained.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Matthew Mozdziak of the 115^th Precinct’s Detective Squad and Detective Keith Adamiszyn of the Queens South Homicide Squad.

Members of DA Katz’ Extraditions, Renditions & Property Release Services Unit provided vital assistance.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Weinstein of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Caitlyn Muldoon under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.