A DoorDash delivery driver has been charged with homicide in connection with the fatal shooting of an Amazon employee at a suburban Chicago fulfillment center, authorities said Thursday.
Background
Devonta Hodge, 33, of Indiana, is accused of killing Dylan Perkins, 26, on June 28 outside the Amazon Fulfillment Center located on Vollmer Road in Matteson, Illinois—a village roughly 30 miles south of Chicago. Officers arrived at the scene a few minutes before 11 p.m. and found Perkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, according to the Matteson Police Department.
Prosecutors told Cook County Circuit Court that Perkins was on break with two co-workers when Hodge arrived to make a DoorDash delivery. As the defendant passed by, Perkins allegedly made "a joking comment about (Hodge's) height." After completing the delivery, prosecutors said Perkins approached Hodge again.
The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation. Prosecutors allege Hodge pushed Perkins away from him twice before pulling out a firearm and shooting him multiple times. The suspect then fled the scene. Surveillance footage captured the entire incident, allowing investigators to quickly identify Hodge as the shooter.
Perkins was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The Charges
Hodge has been charged with one count of homicide in connection with Perkins' death. He was arrested on June 30 after voluntarily surrendering at the Matteson Police Department to speak with investigators about the shooting.
Court records reveal that Hodge possesses a valid Firearm Owners Identification card but does not hold a concealed carry permit. Prosecutors also disclosed that the defendant has a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon, which could factor into the case as an aggravating circumstance.
Cook County Judge Torrie Luciana Corbin ordered Hodge held without bond in the Cook County Jail pending trial. In her detention order, the judge wrote that Hodge "demonstrated emotional immaturity in how to resolve conflicts" and noted that after the shooting, he allegedly "attempted to avoid responsibility by returning the vehicle he was driving to the owner and lying and saying the vehicle was missing."
Key Takeaways
- Devonta Hodge, 33, has been charged with one count of homicide for the June 28 fatal shooting of Dylan Perkins, 26, at an Amazon fulfillment center in Matteson, Illinois
- Prosecutors allege the killing stemmed from a minor dispute after Perkins made what authorities described as "a joking comment about (Hodge's) height"
- After pushing Perkins away twice during an altercation, Hodge allegedly shot him multiple times and fled the scene
- The shooting was captured on surveillance footage; Hodge surrendered to police two days later
- Hodge has a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon and lacks a concealed carry permit despite possessing a Firearm Owners Identification card
What's Next
Hodge is currently detained in Cook County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 16 for preliminary proceedings. Prosecutors have indicated they are continuing to review evidence, including the surveillance footage, as they build their case for trial.