The quiet stretch of southeast Topeka was shaken Monday afternoon when gunfire cut through a mobile home park on SE 29th Street. By the time officers from the Topeka Police Department arrived just after 1 p.m., a young man was already fighting for his life. What unfolded next would leave a family grieving and a community searching for answers.
The victim, now identified as 22-year-old Devin David-Lee Hoadley, was found with a gunshot wound. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but the injuries were too severe. He later died, marking Topeka’s third homicide of 2026.
Friends and relatives say Hoadley was more than just another name in a police report. He had recently stepped into fatherhood, a role those close to him say he embraced with pride. They describe him as kind, present, and deeply connected to the people around him. That loss now sits heavy, especially for a child who will grow up hearing stories instead of making memories.
Investigators quickly turned their focus to a person of interest: 19-year-old Tayvion Smith. Authorities released his name and photos, urging the public to help track him down. As of Wednesday, he remained at large, and the search continued with urgency.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that even small details could help move the case forward. Detectives are working leads, but they are also leaning on the public to close the gap between suspicion and arrest.
For Hoadley’s family, the wait is painful. Calls for justice have grown louder, with loved ones demanding accountability and answers. Their grief is raw, but so is their determination to see the case resolved.
What happened on that stretch of SE 29th Street is now part of a broader concern in the city. Another life lost, another family broken, and another suspect still out there. For now, the investigation remains active, and a community watches closely, hoping the next update brings closure instead of more questions.
