CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging DaJuan Evans, 22, for the 2019 murder of 58-year-old Sheila Wallace murdered while walking her dog in McGowan Park. DaJuan Evans was 18 at the time of the murder.

“Sheila Wallace was not and will not be forgotten. Her horrendous murder shook the Bellaire-Puritas community to the core and my thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family. I want to personally thank the members of the Cleveland Homicide Initiative, which includes staff from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit, the Cleveland Office of the FBI, and BCI. I would also like to thank the Cleveland Office of the ATF and the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensics Science Laboratory. These agencies tirelessly worked to solve this case for the victim and her family. Without the continuous hardworking members of law enforcement, today would not be possible.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

“For four years, our community has sought answers to the senseless homicide of Sheila Wallace. I am elated that this first step in bringing justice to the victim and her family has been taken.”

Ward 16 Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy 

On January 17, 2019, the 58-year-old female victim was walking her small dog in McGowan Park, which was part of her normal routine, around 7 p.m. at night. While she was walking her dog, DaJuan Evans and another male were walking in the park towards her.

According to video evidence, Evans and the additional male crossed paths with the victim, Evans stopped, turned around, and fired four shots. One shot struck the victim in the head, one shot struck the victim in the chest, and the two additional shots missed the victim. Evans and the additional male then fled the scene. Soon after, residents discovered the victim and called the police. The Cleveland Division of Police (CPD) responded to the scene and the victim was pronounced deceased. At the time of the murder, the gun that was used in the incident had not been located.

On April 3, 2019, there was an unrelated shooting near West 48th Street and Storer Avenue in Cleveland. That gun was later linked through a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) lead to the McGowan Park murder. Further investigation linked DaJuan Evans to the firearm used in the Wallace homicide.

The Cleveland Homicide Initiative (CHI), which includes the Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensics Laboratory, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’s Homicide Investigation Unit conducted the investigation.

DNA evidence, a NIBIN lead, witness testimony, and video evidence linked DaJuan Evans to the crime.

DaJuan Evans was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Aggravated Murder
  • Two counts of Murder
  • Two counts of Felonious Assault

He will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.