He Was Driving in Broad Daylight When Another Car Pulled Up and Opened Fire
Toledo, Ohio — March 2, 2021
It was the middle of the afternoon.
Traffic moved along one of Toledo’s busiest areas. People were going about their day near ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
Then another vehicle pulled alongside a moving SUV and gunfire erupted.
Within seconds, 29-year-old Jo’Von “DeDe” Porter was dying behind the wheel.
Another Vehicle Pulled Alongside His SUV
Around 2:16 p.m. on March 2, 2021, Jo’Von was driving a Chevy Tahoe in the 2100 block of West Central Avenue, near ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
According to investigators, another vehicle pulled alongside the Tahoe and someone opened fire.
Bullets tore into the SUV.
Jo’Von was struck in the head.
After being shot, he lost control of the Tahoe and crashed into a brick wall.
Another passenger was inside the SUV and survived the attack.
Jo’Von’s injuries were catastrophic.
Emergency crews rushed him to nearby Toledo Hospital, but he did not survive.
The Lucas County Coroner ruled his death a homicide.
Toledo Knew Him as “DeDe”
To many people in Toledo, Jo’Von was known simply as “DeDe.”
He was a local rapper and a familiar face in the community.
His life ended in gunfire in the middle of the afternoon, surrounded by moving traffic and potential witnesses.
Yet no one has been publicly held accountable.
Investigators have not publicly established a motive for why Jo’Von was targeted.
Investigators Faced a Wall of Silence
More than 5 years have passed since Jo’Von was killed.
No arrest has been announced.
No one has been convicted.
And his family remains without answers about who pulled alongside his SUV and opened fire that afternoon.
Investigators have described encountering a wall of silence while trying to solve the case.
The shooting happened in broad daylight on a busy Toledo roadway. Someone may have seen the vehicle that approached Jo’Von’s Tahoe, witnessed the gunfire or know what led to the attack.
The Toledo Police Department and Toledo Crime Stoppers continue seeking information.
A reward of up to $5,000 remains available for anonymous information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Jo’Von “DeDe” Porter is urged to call or text Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished