The death of a professional bull rider is being investigated as a “domestic violence homicide,” after authorities detained his girlfriend. The Salt Lake City resident died from his injuries after being shot outside of an apartment.
On Monday, Sept. 12, detectives confirmed the death of Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, a 27-year-old from Fresno, Texas. Authorities have charged his girlfriend LaShawn Denise Bagley. She was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and charged with murder and felony discharge of a firearm.
The bull rider, who performed under the name Ouncie Mitchell, was found suffering from his injuries, after being rushed to the hospital. Medics were not able to preserve his life.
The 21-year-old partner has been taken into custody.
The Salt Lake City Police Department released a statement, saying, “This investigation started at 12:06 a.m. on Monday… [when officers] received information about a man who had been shot at an apartment complex near 900 South 200 West. Responding officers found the victim, later identified as Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, outside of an apartment with at least one gunshot wound. Officers immediately provided emergency medical care. Gold Cross transported Allen to a local hospital where he died.”
The statement continued, “Officers saw multiple bullet holes coming from an apartment. After developing a plan, officers safely took the suspect, 21-year-old LaShawn Denise Bagley, into custody.”
Detectives discovered “Allen and Bagley knew each other and had been in a relationship,” believing the young man came to the city with plans to attend the Utah State Fair and stay as a guest with Bagley.
After the fair, according to police, the two went to a bar in the downtown area, “where they got into an argument.”
Detective Michelle Peterson said Allen determined he would return to Bagley’s house to pick up his things, but once he arrived he was shot.
Law & Crime reports there was no evidence he was inside Bagley’s home when he was shot. Officers say they saw blood outside of the apartment and said a “witness also stated that there was no entry or attempted forced entry into the apartment.”
Tributes poured in to celebrate the life of the young entertainer.
Commissioner of Professional Bull Riders Sean Gleason said, “Ouncie got his name because he was born small. He grew up to compete with a huge heart.”
Via social media, Gleason wrote, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Demetrius Allen, who fans knew as Ouncie Mitchell. Ouncie was a talented cowboy and a familiar face on the Velocity Tour. The PBR extends our heartfelt condolences to Ouncie’s cousin Ezekiel Mitchell and the entire family.”
Allen started riding animals when he was two and by the time he was five rode his first steer.
Bull riding was a family affair. His father also rode bulls and his cousin Ezekiel Mitchell is a professional rider.
Mitchell commented on the death, saying, “I don’t understand and I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to understand. The guy that would give the shirt off his back to anybody, why would you take his life away?”
Allen leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter. Her mother, Nytesha Haywood, said, “She loved her daddy. She loved him and loved him, loved him. And it was always, ‘My daddy this. My daddy doing this. My daddy took me fishing.’ ”
His premature death came after he had scored a big win at the fair. He posted footage on his Instagram account. He captioned, “Got the WIN here in Fort Madison Iowa with an 87.5 #LivingRank #FilsonAthlete #BLESSED.”
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It would be the last time he would ride a bull.
