By Trendsetter Tribune 
The man accused of hunting down and killing his ex-girlfriend in an execution-style shooting inside her Queens home has now been formally indicted on murder charges, prosecutors announced Thursday. The case has drawn renewed attention to domestic violence, stalking, and the dangers victims face even after leaving abusive relationships.
For the victim’s family, the indictment brings a measure of accountability — but also reopens deep wounds.
Dashanna Donovan, 21, had moved to New York City just six months before her death, hoping to rebuild her life after leaving what her family described as an abusive relationship. She was living in East Elmhurst with her grandmother and cousin when she was killed in September.
Authorities say her former boyfriend, De’Ovryion Elijha Ray, followed her from South Carolina to New York and carried out the killing before fleeing the state.
Ray, 23, has been jailed in South Carolina since October and now faces extradition to New York.
According to prosecutors and police, Ray ambushed Donovan near her home, shooting her multiple times in the head as she tried desperately to escape.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny previously said surveillance video captured Donovan standing in an open courtyard behind her building near 96th Street and 31st Avenue when she suddenly looked up and recognized the approaching gunman.
“She tries to run so frantically away from the scene, she actually runs out of her own shoes,” Kenny said. Donovan attempted to flee into the building’s basement, where police say Ray caught up to her and shot her multiple times, killing her.
Photos from the scene show bullet holes in the walls where prosecutors allege Ray continued firing his weapon.
On Thursday, Ray learned that a Queens grand jury had indicted him on:
- Second-degree murder
- Criminal possession of a weapon
New York prosecutors now have 30 days to transport Ray back to the city, where he will face trial. If convicted on the top charge, Ray faces 25 years to life in prison.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said her office is moving swiftly to hold him accountable.
“We allege that the defendant shot her in the head and then fled the state in an attempt to avoid accountability,” Katz said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones as we seek justice.”
For Donovan’s mother, Helena Hypolite, the indictment brings mixed emotions.
“I’m ecstatic but I’m also sad because now I have to relive this all over again,” Hypolite said. She described the alleged killing as the culmination of control and obsession.
“She left him and he wasn’t in control anymore,” Hypolite said. “My personal feeling is that he wanted to kill my daughter.”
Hypolite cited alleged violent incidents involving Ray in December 2024 and January 2025 as warning signs that she believes were tragically ignored.
“He is an animal and he should be caged for the rest of his life,” she said. “My daughter will not come back, but at least he’s not on the streets to hurt or kill anybody else.”
Authorities say the case follows a chillingly familiar pattern seen in domestic violence homicides:
- A victim leaves an abusive relationship
- The abuser loses control
- Violence escalates rather than ends
Experts have long warned that the period immediately after a victim leaves an abusive partner is often the most dangerous, especially when stalking behaviors and threats go unchecked.
Prosecutors emphasized that Donovan appeared to recognize her attacker instantly — underscoring the deeply personal nature of the crime.
Ray remains incarcerated in South Carolina as extradition proceedings move forward. Once returned to New York, he will be arraigned in Queens Supreme Court.
For Donovan’s family, the legal process represents a long road ahead — one they hope will end with a sentence that ensures he can never harm anyone else.
The indictment of De’Ovryion Elijha Ray marks a significant step toward justice in the killing of Dashanna Donovan, a young woman whose life was cut short after trying to escape an abusive relationship.
As prosecutors prepare to bring Ray back to New York, the case stands as a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of domestic violence — and the urgency of protecting victims before it’s too late.