DeVante Nathaniel Tyler Obituary, Death – Authorities in Gladstone, Missouri, have identified the man who was fatally shot during a confrontation at an apartment complex last week. The victim, 21-year-old DeVante Nathaniel Tyler, was killed in the early morning hours of May 16 following a dispute that escalated into violence.
According to the Gladstone Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting around 2:15 a.m. at an apartment near the intersection of Northeast 61st Street and North Oak Trafficway. When they arrived on the scene, they discovered Tyler suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries.
Investigators have since arrested 21-year-old Bobby Colding III in connection with the incident. Colding, who resided in the apartment where the shooting occurred, is now facing charges in Clay County Circuit Court. He has been formally charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
Court documents reveal that the altercation began as a disagreement between Tyler and the residents of the apartment, which included Colding. Tyler was reportedly visiting a woman he had recently met on a dating app. What started as a verbal exchange ultimately escalated, leading to the fatal shooting.
In a police interview following his arrest, Colding claimed that he retrieved a handgun during the confrontation and fired a single shot at Tyler, hitting him in the chest. Colding stated that he acted in self-defense and said he feared for his safety during the altercation. After the shooting, he called 911 to report the incident.
However, according to statements in the charging documents, Tyler was not armed at the time of the shooting. Investigators found no evidence suggesting that he posed an imminent lethal threat, raising questions about the legitimacy of the self-defense claim. Authorities noted that the presence of a weapon on Tyler was not indicated at any point during the investigation.
As of Friday, Colding remains in custody at the Clay County Jail. A judge has set his bond at $500,000. The court has since entered a not guilty plea on Colding’s behalf during his arraignment earlier in the week.
A bond hearing is scheduled for May 27, during which the defense and prosecution will present arguments regarding Colding’s continued detention or possible conditional release. Until then, Colding is expected to remain incarcerated.
The shooting has left Tyler’s family and friends devastated, as they struggle to come to terms with his sudden and violent death. Loved ones describe Tyler as a bright and ambitious young man whose life was cut short far too soon. His family is calling for justice and has expressed hope that the legal process will bring clarity and accountability.
Meanwhile, the case has prompted conversations about the use of deadly force and the boundaries of self-defense laws. Missouri’s self-defense statutes allow individuals to protect themselves when they reasonably believe they are in imminent danger. However, in this case, prosecutors appear to believe that the use of a firearm against an unarmed individual may not meet the threshold required to justify lethal force.
Police are continuing their investigation and have interviewed multiple witnesses in an effort to piece together a full account of the events leading up to the shooting. They have not released the name of the woman Tyler was visiting, citing privacy concerns, but confirmed that she has cooperated with investigators.
In the days since the incident, community members have mourned Tyler’s loss and called for peace. Several of Tyler’s friends have organized a candlelight vigil in his honor and have expressed a desire to see his memory preserved beyond the tragic circumstances of his death.
The Gladstone Police Department has encouraged anyone with additional information about the case to come forward. They continue to gather evidence and review surveillance footage from nearby buildings to establish a clear timeline of the events on the night of the shooting.
Colding’s defense team is expected to argue self-defense more extensively in court, but prosecutors remain firm in their decision to pursue charges of second-degree murder. That charge typically implies that the killing was not premeditated but still involved a conscious disregard for human life.
As the legal process unfolds, the community remains focused on supporting Tyler’s grieving family and monitoring developments in the case. A memorial service for Tyler is expected to be held in the coming days, with details to be announced by his family.
For now, the city of Gladstone is left reeling from the sudden violence that took place in a residential neighborhood, with many hoping for justice and healing in the wake of tragedy.