Police Reveal Possible Motive in Unitedville Murder

Twenty-year-old Kevon Anthony Alford of Unitedville has been charged with the murder of 25-year-old Denvoy Bartley. He was also charged with the attempted murder of Albert Bennett and the use of deadly means of harm and wounding of Bartley’s twin brother, Delroy.

The brothers had travelled to Unitedville on Saturday to help prepare for their mother’s birthday celebration when a gunman emerged from nearby bushes and opened fire around 8:34pm.

ASP Stacy Smith said the investigation points to an ongoing dispute over the local drug trade as the motive. Smith added that police have increased their presence in the area following the shooting and deployed a tactical team.

A neighbour and close family friend said she heard the gunfire from her home, unaware at the time that the victims were people she considered family. “I heard that the gunshot happened, like, one up the yard. Then after that, pop, pop, pop, and all you hear, and then they say the young man got over the young man and shot ah,” she said.

Bartley previously faced a 2023 murder charge in the death of 24-year-old Lionel Lee Budna but was acquitted after a nolle prosequi was entered.