A 21-year-old woman from Queens was fatally shot after being pursued into her home by an unknown assailant who fired multiple rounds, hitting her in the head, according to police and sources on Saturday.
Dashana Donovan was discovered with a gunshot wound to her head around 9:30 PM on Friday. Officers arrived at 96th Avenue, near 31st Avenue in East Elmhurst, following reports of an attack.
It was reported that several shell casings were left on the floor of Donovan’s apartment, with multiple bullet holes evident in the walls.
Her mother, Helena Hypolite, revealed to the Post, “It’s clear she knew him because she saw the person and heard him coming.” The identity of the shooter remains a mystery, she added.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured the attacker chasing Donovan into her residence with a firearm.
However, as per the officers, the specifics of the relationship between Donovan and her assailant are still unclear.
As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests had been made.
Police have access to video evidence showing the moment the victim was chased into her home by a man carrying a gun.
Donovan, originally from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, is remembered fondly by her family. Her mother described her as someone who lit up a room with her smile and humor. “She loved dancing and was a big fan of my chicken curry,” she reflected.
A neighbor, who requested anonymity, recounted sitting outside when he suddenly heard gunfire. “We were just enjoying the evening; then suddenly there were several pops. It sounded frightening. We didn’t know what to do and just ran around.”
Another local mentioned hearing multiple shots, contributing to the confusion in the area.
Describing her loss, Donovan’s mother expressed, “I feel broken, like a part of me is gone.” She added that her daughter had been a strong advocate against gun violence.
In a heartfelt plea, she urged the shooter to turn themselves in: “He should come forward. I don’t know how he could sleep at night after what he did.”
