As 11-year-old De’Evan McFall saw it, his future lay unequivocally within the professional sphere of the NBA or NFL. In the arena of his youth football team, the DeSoto Colts, De’Evan’s prowess was a force to be reckoned with, making waves far beyond his own team and garnering the attention of rival teams. Such was the depth of his talent that other teams actively sought to recruit him, as his coach Byron Sanders recounts.
A young lad in his fifth grade, De’Evan was just starting to harness his natural athleticism and spirited vitality into perfecting his game. Sanders was steadfast in his belief that had De’Evan been given the opportunity, his fame would have far surpassed the limits of the youth league.
However, the life of this promising youngster met a tragically abrupt end on January 15th. De’Evan became the unintended target of a stray bullet, discharged amidst a skirmish involving two teenage girls. The incident, which happened to involve his own sister, resulted in De’Evan’s untimely death. A 14-year-old girl is currently facing murder charges in connection to the case.
In the horrifying blink of an eye, Vashunte Settles, De’Evan’s mother, joined the swathes of grieving parents who have lost children to the rampant gun violence plaguing the United States. In the current year alone, over 1,300 children and teenagers have tragically lost their lives to gunfire. Settles has since initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid her in managing the funeral costs for De’Evan.
Energetic and steadfastly affectionate, young De’Evan was a whirlwind of outgoing charisma, channeling his energy into his love for rap music and sports. Following his death, his friends and fifth-grade classmates memorialized their friendship with him by presenting a plethora of signed footballs and basketballs as tokens of their shared camaraderie.
Despite facing significant challenges in his short life, including experiencing homelessness and an ADHD diagnosis that was a constant struggle in school, De’Evan braved his adversities with unwavering determination. In fact, his resourcefulness led him to find ways to overcome the financial roadblocks standing in his path to play for local teams.
Upon joining the DeSoto Colts on a scholarship, De’Evan emerged as a team leader and a beacon for younger teammates. His outgoing nature made him influential as he often stirred his counterparts to action. Notwithstanding his immense talent, he was always eager to enhance his performance. De’Evan’s aspirations went beyond a career in the NFL or NBA; he dreamt of providing a secure future for his family.
Off-field, De’Evan’s infectious personality made him a popular friend, and he reveled in opportunities to showcase his love for rap, filming dances, or talking about music. Quick to forgive and always eager to mend friendships, De’Evan was the proverbial heart of his circle. He carried an unwavering belief that he was surrounded by positive influences, consistently exuding love and respect for those in his life.
In the face of adversity, De’Evan triumphed, making the best of the hand that life had dealt him. He was a beacon of unwavering positivity, steadfastly committed to making the most of life, reminding us all to remain resilient even in the face of adversity. His life and inexplicably tragic death underscore the ongoing crisis of gun violence in America, stealing away the promise of youth far too soon.
