DeVonté Douglass Joins North Philadelphia Council Office After 2021 Plea

DeVonté Douglass began working as a special assistant to Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. last Monday. Douglass announced the position on LinkedIn last week, stating he looked forward to serving Philadelphia residents and advocating for safer communities. He described the role as an opportunity to serve the city and the communities that shaped his life. The post remained visible until Tuesday afternoon but was removed from his account by Wednesday afternoon.

Douglass previously served in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as a peer crisis responder for gun violence victims. He was fired from that role in 2021 following a fatal shooting incident in October 2020. At the time, he was in a support position within the office of District Attorney Larry Krasner. The state attorney general’s office managed the case because of a conflict of interest within the district attorney’s office.

In October 2020, Douglass fatally shot 31-year-old Vernon Harris in Strawberry Mansion. Prosecutors said the two men had connected on Instagram and agreed to meet. Douglass paid Harris $250 via CashApp. Both men were armed. Investigators determined that Douglass acted in self-defense because Harris was attempting to rob him at gunpoint. As a result, no charges were filed against Douglass in relation to the shooting.

In 2021, Philadelphia Municipal Court charged Douglass with three misdemeanors: soliciting prostitution, possession of an instrument of crime, and misleading investigators. State prosecutors alleged he initially lied about the reason for meeting Harris. Douglass pleaded guilty to the prostitution-related misdemeanor in exchange for the other charges being dropped. Court records show he was sentenced to probation.

Since leaving the district attorney’s office, Douglass has worked with nonprofit organizations focused on justice and safety. He also served as a secretary in the Philadelphia court system. His professional profile describes him as a criminal justice professional with over a decade of experience across the legal system, including judicial chambers and community advocacy.

Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. is a first-term Democrat representing the 5th Council District. The district includes most of North Philadelphia and parts of Center City. Young’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment Wednesday. A person who answered a phone number associated with Douglass said they would relay the request. Douglass did not respond. Neither Douglass nor a spokesperson for Young provided further comment on the new appointment.

Douglass’s new role as special assistant to Councilmember Young Jr. takes effect immediately following his announcement. The 5th District office will now include Douglass in its staff lineup. No further announcements have been made regarding the specific duties or duration of his tenure in the council office.