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Suspect still missing in 21-year-old Queens woman’s killing, police ask for public’s help
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 26, 2025
Modified Sep 26, 2025
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 26, 2025
Modified Sep 26, 2025
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Police asked the public Friday for help identifying a man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Queens woman at her building two weeks ago.
NYPD officials released new surveillance images of the suspect, who they say was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black sneakers and a black backpack around the time Dashanna Donovan was killed on Sept. 12. Police said he approached her while she was sitting in the courtyard of her building on 96th Street near Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst.
Surveillance video shows Donovan looked up at the man and appeared to recognize him, according to officials. She began to run, but the man caught up to her in the building’s basement and shot her several times, police said.
Officers found Donovan with a gunshot wound to her head around 9:30 p.m. that night, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. She is the 12th woman to die from gun violence in New York City so far this year, according to NYPD data compiled by Gothamist.
The man police say they're looking for in connection with Dashanna Donovan's death on Sept. 12, 2025
NYPD
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing Thursday that Donovan moved to the city from South Carolina about six months ago to escape an abusive relationship and live with relatives. He said she worked the night shift at a McDonald’s and her family is helping police explore potential motives in her killing.
“She tries to run so frantically away from the scene she actually runs out of her own shoes,” he said.
Kenny added that the suspect was seen in the area a couple of hours before Donovan was shot, and at the Canal Street subway station in Manhattan after the incident.
Police data shows homicides are up slightly so far this year in the 115th Precinct, which includes East Elmhurst and other northern Queens neighborhoods, at six compared to four by the same point in 2024. Donovan was the only person shot in the precinct through Sept. 21, down from five at the same time last year.
Officials said they are still investigating whether Donovan and the man knew each other. They’re asking anyone with information about the incident to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website.
Charles Lane contributed reporting. This story is based on preliminary information from police and has been updated with additional details.
Tagged
east elmhurst
new york city
public safety
queens
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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