In 2020, he killed a man in self-defense after soliciting prostitution. Last week, he said he got a job in City Council.
DeVonté Douglass in 2021 was fired from his role in the district attorney’s office and pleaded guilty to a prostitution-related misdemeanor after fatally shooting a sex worker in self-defense.
In 2021, DeVonté Douglass was fired from his role in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty to a prostitution-related misdemeanor after fatally shooting a sex worker in self-defense.
Last week, Douglass posted on LinkedIn that he got a new job in Philadelphia’s halls of power, working as a staffer for City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr.
The post was still visible as of Tuesday afternoon, but had been deleted from Douglass’ account by Wednesday afternoon.
In the post, Douglass said he would begin working in Young’s office as a special assistant, effective Monday.
“I look forward to supporting Councilmember Young’s work, serving the residents of Philadelphia, and continuing to advocate for stronger, safer, and more empowered communities,” Douglass wrote. “This is more than a new position. It is another opportunity to serve the city and communities that have shaped who I am.”
Neither Douglass nor a spokesperson for Young responded to requests for comment Wednesday.
In October 2020, Douglass — who at the time was working in a gun violence victims support role in the district attorney’s office — fatally shot 31-year-old Vernon Harris. The two men had chatted on Instagram and agreed to meet in Strawberry Mansion, and Douglass paid Harris $250 on CashApp, prosecutors said at the time.
Both men were armed, and investigators determined Douglass acted in self-defense and did not charge him in relation to the shooting because Harris was attempting to rob him at gunpoint.
Douglass in 2021 was charged in Philadelphia Municipal Court with three misdemeanors: soliciting prostitution; possession of an instrument of crime; and misleading investigators, with state prosecutors alleging he initially lied to investigators about why he was meeting Harris.
Later that year, Douglass pleaded guilty to the prostitution-related misdemeanor in exchange for the other charges being dropped, according to court records. He was sentenced to probation, records show.
Douglass at the time was a peer crisis responder working with victims of gun violence in the office of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. He was fired after the incident, a spokesperson said then.
The state attorney general’s office managed the case due to the district attorney’s office’s conflict of interest.
Since leaving the district attorney’s office, Douglass has worked with nonprofit organizations focused on justice and safety issues and as a secretary in the Philadelphia court system, according to his LinkedIn profile. He described himself as a “dedicated Criminal Justice Professional with over a decade of experience working across the legal system — from judicial chambers to community-based advocacy.”
Young’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment Wednesday. A first-term Democrat, Young represents the 5th Council District, which includes most of North Philadelphia and parts of Center City.
A person who answered a phone number associated with Douglass said they would relay a request for comment to him. He did not respond.
Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
