Monday, January 13, 2014

Devonte Coppage, Who Died In St. Paul Over A $300 Drug Deal, Documented His Life On Facebook...


Facebook photo, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, and public safety exceptions to copyright,
blog post by John Hoff

Devonte Coppage, who was named by this blog before any other media source as the victim of a failed drug deal in St. Paul, was like many other young urban individuals with extensive criminal records who die by homicidal violence or (on a different day, when somebody else gets the drop) commit homicidal violence; in that he extensively documented his life on Facebook.

So here we go again, and it gets old before it even starts...
In the photo above, Devonte (to the right) poses with a bottle that might contain Grey Goose, or it might contain water and it's only useful for posing in pictures, who knows? Nothing says class like leaning up against the peeling paint of a retaining wall with a bottle of Grey Goose, the preferred drink of homicide victims. (Sarcasm font) 

Devonte provided a one-word caption for this photo, as follows:

"Squad." 

To which I say:

"Car."


The photo above also was on Coppage's website, but obviously originated on a mugshot site. Young Coppage, now dead over a $300 marijuana transaction, proudly labeled his mug shot as follows:

"IMMA REAL HITTA LOL"

This photo, above, was labeled "Throwback Twin$."

I can't help but be reminded of an old Saturday Night Live skit where Phil Hartman, playing an abrasive Frank Sinatra who is running his own talk show, comments, "I got nothing. It's all clicks and pops." 

The photo above was not labeled. Coppage appears to be holding his nose and mouth in response to an odor. The photo above is obviously a cropped version of this photo, below.




Inevitably, I find pictures of MONEY on the Facebook pages of individuals like Coppage, but this photo has the distinction of being the LEAST amount of money I've seen photographed. At first glance, it appears to be THREE U.S. Dollars but look closely!

Oh!!! It's FOUR dollars.

Unknown why words are written on the bills. 

This mugshot was found on the page of Devonte Coppage, but it pictures Dwayne Freeman, who goes under his own name on Facebook. Freeman was apparently close to Coppage, because following the shooting Freeman changed his profile picture to an image of Coppage, as follows:

Back to Coppage's Facebook page...

He posted the following image showing his student ID and his pregnant baby mama in the background:

As a caption to this photo in January of 2013, exactly one year before he died over a minor drug deal in St. Paul, Coppage wrote the following declaration; the lengthiest thing I've seen on his Facebook page:

"Im a young black powerful minority, thats after every dolla im also following my dreams. Im doing this for my brothers who couldnt make it, "kee, phat phat, quisko and my Cuzzn pudda loc" most of all my first child Na'sere king Coppage i love life." 

The name "Kee" appears to allude to homicide victim Keontrell Govan. The "Phat Phat" may be homicide victim Anthony "Phat Phat" Titus. Unknown who "Quisko" refers to, but "Pudda Loc" is homicide victim Decari Antonio Starr. 

This image was on Coppage's Facebook page, but given the qualities of the photo (especially the neat lettering, correct spelling, and use of the word "money" instead of a dollar sign) I suspect it's one of those images floating around Facebook and was merely shared by Coppage. 

This image, above, was taken about the same time as the "Grey Goose" photo, based upon the identical attire. The lowness of the pants is impressive. Must make it difficult to run from somebody brandishing a weapon, though.


The image above, and photos taken at the same time of the same group, not only appear on the page of Devonte Coppage but a number of Facebook pages. The individuals are identified as (to the viewer's left of Coppage) Cece Pretty'Asz Govan and (to the immediate viewer's right of Coppage) Latrice Gorgess'Asx Jones and Jason Aed Jones.

The relationship of Cece Pretty'Asz Govan to murder victim Keontrell Govan was apparently that of a romantic couple, based upon a YouTube tribute video, click here. Her profile says "Missing MyKeontrell" on the "wallpaper" photo. She recently changed her profile picture to a cropped image (taken from the photo above) of herself with Coppage. 

It is commonly known Coppage died as the father of a small child by his girlfriend, known on Facebook as Kee Kee Dem Dollars. "Kee Kee" lists herself as being from Gary, Indiana but currently resides in Minneapolis. 


The image above shows Coppage with a baby, presumably his own baby since there are photos in the same series which appear to show the delivery of his child at the hospital with Coppage there and involved. In the photo above, Coppage may just be tired but I can't help but feel a distinct lack of excitement in regard to his duties as a father. 

To be completely fair, other photos show him providing affection to the child in question, but I am avoiding publishing further photos of the innocent baby except the somewhat indistinct image, above. 

As fate would have it, Coppage wasn't involved in the duties of fatherhood for very long before dying in a drug-deal-gone wrong.  

I offer this photo as a final commentary, of sorts.


But he wasn't here for long. 

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why the words on the money? You published the same mantra later in your article, "after ever dolla" (sic). It's like a 'hood rebus. Where the last dollar is the "dolla" of the trope-ish catchphrase.

Anonymous said...

You enjoy blatant sarcasm in the murder of a young person. You need to examine your motives. Discussing where his pants rest on his frame is so petty. I feel sorry for you and it seems you lack empathy,there is a medical term for that of which I'm sure you know.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, he did a lot of things wrong. Still, it's sad. His being enrolled at MCTC - even if he didn't last there - meant that he wanted to do something worthwhile. Dealing in any illegal drug is wrong and stupid, but most people his age wouldn't consider it immoral, especially when ALL of their cultural icons smoke weed and it's now legal for recreational purposes in two states. I'll pray for him and his family and others his age.

Johnny Northside! said...

So "after" every dollar means to BE after, to be chasing?

Hmmmm.

Yes, I think you've deciphered it.

Johnny Northside! said...

In regard to "sarcasm," it's not sarcasm to say his pants are so long it would be difficult to run from somebody brandishing a weapon. That might be caustic commentary, it might be dark humor, but it's not sarcasm.

Sarcasm would be if I said one thing but actually meant the opposite, like so:

Gee, I love his pants. Where can I get a pair like that?

THAT would be sarcasm.

Now that I've educated you on this point, hopefully you will be able to apply this knowledge correctly in future commentary.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to read the comment again. Your story is sarcastic when you discuss the CLASS of the photo. The pants comment is petty. No one said it was sarcastic. Google petty and educate yourself. You’re welcome.

Anonymous said...

www.businessinsider.com/social-media-may-aid-dea-cartel-busts-2014-1

Anonymous said...

Just cus he was in mctc don't mean nothing damn near all people in the city that are black males only go for them school checks cus they give away free money that yu don't have to work for or do any wrong to get them and everybody he shouted out was in part of a gang so it shows he affliated and him throwong gangs signs doesn't show a change in his lifestyle. ...but hey yu live by the gun yu die by the gun

Anonymous said...

The first thing every family says about a slain loved one is "he was a good kid tryna change his life around" meaning we told him about the life he was living and didn't listen until it was too late....which nobody deserves to lose a life in the hands of another but in this game yu gangbang yu gotta play the rules its sad that in he knew he needed a gun to do a drug deal that should of told him not to go or not to do it...it just wasn't worth it bcus it could of took a life or in his case got his life took.....and in either way he would of been away from his family forever but I pray for his family bcus things like this is said nobody wants to give up they money or drugs if they can get the next man to give up wat they got without having to exchange nothing

Johnny Northside! said...

Google PETTY?

I tried but I Googled PRETTY by mistake, and this is what I turned up:

http://www.patrickpretty.com/2010/04/27/bulletin-donald-allen-says-he-will-cooperate-with-secret-service-in-inetglobal-probe-vp-of-renner-entity-claims-former-ceo-was-maligned-by-company-after-raid/

Anonymous said...

His low riding pants means that he likes, oops, liked to take dick in his ass.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if this has any connection to the Coppage family from St. Paul where the family home was molitav cocktailed (I believe in early 1990's). That whole story was a big gang thing.

Anonymous said...

Are you gonna talk about the seal family there a crime family also i hear come on Johnny boy your slippin

Anonymous said...


http://www.patrickpretty.com/?s=donald+w.r.+allen&submit=Go

Anonymous said...

Uhh, are these people really dumb enough to think that any of that federal money you get from a FAFSA for school is free and will not be expecting repayment? Sorry, but school loans will fuck you up the ASS with the interest rate and will hunt you down like a dog if you don't repay--its the only kind of debt you can't receive bankruptcy forgiveness for. But I guess if you die before graduation it really doesn't matter...

Anonymous said...

This post is just an other testament to the fact that yo are a racist with no conscience.

Anonymous said...

As someone else said, he was only enrolled at MCTC for the student loans. Free money. Does anyone really believe this piece of shit actually went to class?

Anonymous said...

You must not have anything else better to do with your life...Find a new hobby besides trying to always find negative things about individuals OR to blog about. Pathetic. Haven't you heard the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"? Try it.

Johnny Northside! said...

That's a stupid saying. I've never bought into it.

Anonymous said...

Student loans aren't free money. Anyone who thinks so is an idiot. Its a liability unlike most financial debt you cannot bankrupt yourself out of.

Anonymous said...

Oh Johnny, you're such a racist. When will you learn you're not allowed to criticize black people? Black people are not responsible for their behavior, the system is.

Anonymous said...


"AED" (After Every Dollar) is a click gang in mpls.

Anonymous said...

At anon 7:51 PM:
Of course its not free money and of course they are idiots! They do not consider their future beyond the next 2 weeks. Case in point: Devonte "Dead Piece of Shit Who Took Advantage of the US Department of Education" Coppage.

Anonymous said...

Aed is not a gang is a group of young performers most are college students. Smdh you ppl always try to put labels on black ppl...

Anonymous said...

Anon@7:51 It is sad that you must have been abused as a child but that is no excuse for being so horrible. Do you feel the lake of fire around your fat,swollen, miserable ankles yet?

Anonymous said...

I wonder why the folks who criticize your blog don't just get a blog of their own and explain what 'misunderstood victims' they are when things don't go their way.
Sad is a baby born with what kind of future, not some DB getting shot while being dumb.

Beagle Legal said...

So I guess you cannot show that there is such a thing as a public safety exception to the copyright laws for a blogger...thought so.
I checked with William Mitchell College of Law and they agreed no such exception exists as it related to your blog article.

A law enforcement agency could, for example, use a copyrighted school photo from Lifetouch in a missing child case, and that would be an exception. But your use of photos from Facebook absolutely violates copyright and has no public safety exception.

Johnny Northside! said...

The photos are used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism AND Public Safety Exception. Regarding the second one, I believe it makes perfectly good sense that the photos depict, for example, the type of people who are the victims and/or perpetrators of gun violence. While my (secondary) use of a public safety exception is innovative, I believe I am carving out an exception. Also, you did not ask any law school. You simply made that up. If you asked a law school, forward the email or correspondence in question and I will take a look at it. But since you're an anonymous troll, you're not going to do that, are you?

Anonymous said...

YOUR IRRITATIN AS HELL DONT KNOW SHIT BOUT MY COUSIN . LET HIM REST IN PEACE . HE NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF && YOUR CRACKER ASS DISRESPECTING HIM . PLEASE CUT THE BULLSHIT SHORT . MY COUSIN DID HIS DIRT BT HE WAS A GOOD MAN . LIL BITCHHHHHHHHH !

Anonymous said...

YALL DONT KNOW SHIT AED IS NOT A GANG JUST FAMILY MEMBERS CHASIN A DREAM . WE DONT GANG BANG NONE OF THAT AND WE ARE ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS OR ABOVE THAT . DISRESPECTING MY DEAD COUSIN IS CRAZY CUZ YALL CRACKERS DONT KNOW SHIT BOUT HIS LIFE . WOW HE POST SOME SHIT ON FB . AINT NOBDY BUMPIN THEY GUMS BOUT HOW YALL WEAK MINDED WHITE FOLKS ALWAYS GOTTA DOWNGRADE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN BECAUSE OF YALL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE . STUPID BITCH HELP THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF TALKIN BOUT EM !

Johnny Northside! said...

Was he a good man while he was "doing his dirt?" Was he a good man while he was armed and making a drug deal in a gas station parking lot? Was he a good man while he was choking a woman? I'll throw in the word "allegedly."

Sounds to me like he was a dirtbag piece of dirt.

Discuss.

Anonymous said...

Cracker ass? Isn't that racist Johnny? Why did you allow that statement? Good grammar by the way there anony. What colleges do 'yall go to again?

Anonymous said...

Cracker is racist? Please grab a dictionary and look up both the words.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it's being used as a racial pejorative in this context.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so the public safety exception to the rules of copyright are your own creation?
I guess Johnny Northside can make up his own laws and rules.
Are you confident that will hold up is court?

Anonymous said...

Today a newborn said goodbye to his father in a casket. There is nothing good about this.

Anonymous said...

Cracker is slang for white, nothing more nothing less idiot. rac·ist
noun

noun: racist; plural noun: racists



1. a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another.

Johnny Northside! said...

I think I approved the comment with the word "cracker" because weighing the racially-loaded term against the rest of the comment, I found the comment substantive. Also because I just can't get all worked up about the term "cracker." I believe in free speech and people who loved Devonte Coppage don't care for this kind of airing of public facts. So I'd rather err on the side of free speech and give them their say when the comment is substantive and contains only the mild racial term "cracker."

People who submit hurtful, racially loaded comments and see their comments rejected all day are probably going to get all excited about my publishing that comment with the word "cracker." Well, so be it. Those commenters whose comments are rejected have shown me time and time again they are CAPABLE of making their point without throwing in racially hurtful terms, yet they choose to throw in the racially hurtful terms.

Now compare THAT with the comment containing the word "CRACKER ASS" typed all in caps, little punctuation, incorrect spelling throughout, street slang put forward as though no other words come to mind...

Is that commenter CAPABLE of making a better and more articulate point? Should I reject his comment merely because he called ME, personally (not all of society, his comment was directed specifically to me) a "CRACKER ASS"?

I published his comment, "CRACKER ASS" and all, because I don't think he or she is CAPABLE of making a more articulate comment and as part of his expressiveness and NEEDED to resort to a term like "CRACKER ASS" which, all the same, is mild. I would rather let that commenter have his say.

I suppose I could have published the comment and deleted the racial term but that was just too much b.s. compared to hitting the PUBLISH button.

Now, you commenters who get all worked up about racial commentary or its non-publication on this blog, I've given you something to discuss so feel free to discuss.

You are allowed as part of the discussion to use the term "CRACKER ASS."

Johnny Northside! said...

Regarding the "newborn" comment, I am not clear on whether you mean there is another baby recently born to Coppage or whether you've broadly applied the term "newborn" to his baby who, judging by the pictures, is already trying to walk. Please clarify?

Anonymous said...

Who ever this person is saying he went to the school to get a check is completely wrong so shut the fuck up you dont know shit so dont talk it...he was very intelligent and graduated with an above average gpa in high school...so quit slandering his character based from your assumptions from a picture when you didnt know him

Anonymous said...

Where do you get AED is a gang from??? And you clearly didnt state in the blog alfonso the seals family being crips how they all made everything private on fb after the killing and made public what they wanted to be seen most profile pictures were turned to photos pictures that read famone (gang in question) alfonso was justbeing released from jail weeks before this murder....the father to the seals criminal record i suggest you do more research ie twitter instagram before painting a picture on this young man who has died based upon his criminal records...the seals family alone has many cases in rasmey county (in witch Antonio has others ppending) they have cause trouble in st paul for many years they just buy there way out of. ...now im not taking sides but however your blogs are very one-sided an unfair

Anonymous said...

Too many students enrolled at MCTC claim they are in college when they are taking Adult Basic Ed courses. If your course number is not 1000 or higher (ex 0600), you're just paying to take middle school / high school classes on a college campus. You're not in college. Based on the grammar of his fellow "college students", I'd bet this was the case for the dearly departed.

Anonymous said...

Would MLK be proud of these folks?

Anonymous said...

He graduated from Cooper High School with VERY good grades. You sound racist and stupid. If the school isn’t up to your standards do NOT blame that on the VICTIM. He was a book smart kid but clearly not in other areas. That might mean that those on here with perfect grammar are actually stupid as hell too. Ignorance runs amuck on here.

Anonymous said...

Who lives to make MLK proud? Oh, is that what black people are supposed to do? I guess I missed the memo. I guess I should cheat on my spouse if I want to be like him . STUPIS FLOWS in these comments.

Anonymous said...

Too bad you wrong but thanks for assuming the wrong shit you judgmental piece of shit

Anonymous said...

Johnny northside self proclaimed is very sad, you ought to be ashamed of yourself the way you talked about this young man, who also was a very good friend of mine. you are way to focused on making assumptions about someone you dont know a thing about only going off heresay. Your lucky someone doesnt do the things you do to other peoples family to yours. do you feel good about yourself that your talking about someone whos life was taken away from him? no matter the circumstances you dont know the half. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT to even speak about what goes on in the black community because you are not a person of color, you dont know our struggle so why waste your time speaking on it? your a very immature & horrible person! you gossip more then a damn female, its called show some fucking respect to someone who's passed.. obviously your mother or father didnt show you the proper home training, you live your life by sticking your nose in other peoples' business. go get a job, do you get paid forthis? seriously. next time show some fucking respect, I hope you dont have children for the simple fact your a horrible ass person who has nothing else better to do with his life! goodbye & you can go to hell (:

Johnny Northside! said...

Feel better? Got that off your chest?

Anonymous said...

You are a pice of shit, seriously go get a life stay out of peoples business. you have nothing else better to do with your life do you? obviously not, just because you might live in a nice little neighborhood with a good car and all this bull shit you take it upon yourself to feel as though your better then everyone else. YOUR NOT you dont know our struggle, stay the fuck out of it stick to your race. lame ass find you something to do!

Anonymous said...

I will make sure I do everything in my power. to get your little site taken down, mark my words

Anonymous said...

Bitch ass johnny northside fuck you dude you dont know shit bout my bro honkey ass bitch !!!
RIH DC

Anonymous said...

So who just makes racist blogs about a dead man? Some activist you are lol your a joke the day you die will be a good day in mpls he has a family who are sick over his death abd you choose to make fun of it? God has his plan for u ASSHOLE

Johnny Northside! said...

I abhor that insensitive remark about his low riding pants but just like I have printed comments that are vicious and attack me, personally, I am publishing the comment in the hope of promoting a vigorous free speech forum.

Unknown said...

1st of all the whole article is sarcasm
Your speaking no FACT simply dumbass opinion ! Just a bitch with a computer and too much time on his hands . You don't know shit about devonte Coppage only what the internet tells you so before you go blogging about some shit you know nothing about, get some real information ! It's disrespectful to family and friends to speak so lowly of a good man who I happen to be very close friends with .