April 6, 2026 | By: Jasen Mata

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

From the outside, Devonte Jenkins was rugged and tough, with tattoos and gold grills in his mouth. On the inside, he was caring, loving, and a devoted father.“If you just went by his outer aesthetic, with face tattoos and gold grills in his mouth, you wouldn’t think that he was loving,” Devonte’s aunt, Tenesha Denmark, said. “He was sweet.”

The opportunities to show his love came to a sudden halt when police showed up on Tenesha’s front porch, explaining that her nephew was gone. His body had been found off Williston Road in Gainesville, Florida, with a bullet wound in his back. He was 24 years old. His murder remains unsolved.

Devonte was born and raised in Citra, Florida, a small and peaceful community nestled between Ocala and Gainesville. His aunt, Tenesha, remembers him as her best friend and the first child she helped raise in her life. “We were as thick as thieves,” said Tenesha. “I just remember him always with me. It didn’t matter; he was always with me.” The two shared a deep bond. Tenesha was there the day Devonte was born, in fact. That day, Tenesha would deliver him – he was the child of her 15-year-old sister.

From a very young age, Devonte set himself apart from his peers. His family describes him as mature, curious, and above all, loving. “He was very mature for his age growing up, and he was a very inquisitive young man,” Tenesha said. “A very peculiar child – he was also very grown-up, curious, and just loving. He is well missed.”

Devonte enjoyed a wide range of hobbies, including riding dirt bikes, playing football, and cheering for his beloved Florida Gators. One of the most memorable aspects of Devonte was his love for basketball legend Michael Jordan. “His favorite number was 23; he loved Michael Jordan,” said Tenesha. His love of Jordan led Devonte to start a collection of Jordan Brand sneakers.

April 5, 2018, is a day that Tenesha Denmark and the rest of her family will never forget. There was a knock at Tenesha’s door; it was the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

“There was a knock at the door, and they were looking for my sister. I told them that she wasn’t here because it was the police, and I didn’t know if she had done anything, ha-ha,” said Tenesha. At the time, the sisters shared a property, so she quickly went to find Jean.

They eventually met with police outside, where they received the terrible news: Devonte had been shot and killed. “They said sorry to inform you, but Devonte was found deceased yesterday. I blacked out; I lost my mind because Devonte was like my first child,” said Tenesha.

No suspects have ever been named or detained. Investigators only had reports of a car leaving the scene and the sound of a gunshot. Tenesha recalls calling the detective assigned to Devonte’s case regularly; he even alluded to a possible lead. However, that interaction would be the last contact Tenesha would have with investigators, and the case would go cold.

Devonte’s murder shattered the lives of those he left behind. Tenesha eventually moved out of the home she had shared with Devonte, saying the memories were too painful. To this day, Tenesha continues to express her grief powerfully. “I have no forgiveness for whoever did this. I hope they never have to experience the pain that we went through, but at the same time, I hope they do,” she said.

Devonte Jenkins is survived by his three children, his parents, his cousins, and, of course, his aunts. His family’s home remains decorated with photos of him. The family also made sure to keep Devonte’s love of Michael Jordan alive. Some of his cousins did so by tattooing the Jumpman logo on themselves, while his immediate family still holds tightly to his cherished Jordan sneaker collection.

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Anyone with information concerning Devonte Jenkin’s murder is asked to call the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case unit at (352) 955-1818. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Alachua County Crime Stoppers at (352) 372-7867.

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