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The on-and-off girlfriend who is alleged to have shot dead her professional bull rider boyfriend has been pictured on her Facebook profile in which she revealed how she was ‘trying not to fall apart’ just days before a fatal shooting at her home.
LaShawn Denise Bagley, 21, allegedly shot dead Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, 27, known professionally as ‘Ouncie Mitchell’ after the pair attended the Utah State Fair on Monday, police said.
Allen was found with ‘at least one gunshot wound’ outside the apartment belonging to Bagley.
Bagley has been charged with first-degree murder and third-degree felony discharge of a firearm.
There were signs of Bagley’s precarious mental state in the days leading up to the shooting.
‘Missing you more than life honestly. I miss you come talk to me again pls, been trying not to fall apart,’ Bagley had written in a Facebook posting aimed at another family member.
Allen is survived by a four-year-old daughter that he had with a previous partner named Nyteshea Haywood.
Allen had traveled to Salt Lake City from Houston to compete at a rodeo at the Utah State Fair and had arranged to stay with Bagley, whom Salt Lake City Police say Allen had a ‘on-and-off relationship’ with, during his trip.
Allen is assumed to have first met Bagley in Houston, where his residence is currently listed and where Bagley previously lived nearby in the suburb of Pearland.
LaShawn Denise Bagley, 21, allegedly shot dead Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, 27, known professionally as ‘Ouncie Mitchell’ after the pair attended the Utah State Fair on Monday, police said
Facebook postings from Bagley reveal her strained mental state in the days before the killing
Facebook postings from Bagley reveal her strained mental state in the days before the killing
Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen (pictured), 27, known by his professional name ‘Ouncie Mitchell’ was found dead outside an apartment belonging to an ‘off-and-on’ girlfriend
Allen had traveled to Salt Lake City to participate in a rodeo at the Utah State Fair. He arranged to stay with Bagley, whom he presumably met while living in Houston, while he competed
Bagley was arrested on charges of murder and felony discharge of a firearm after Allen was found with ‘at least one gunshot wound’ outside her apartment
Allen and Bagley attended the fair Monday before leaving for a bar where the pair had an argument
The 27-year-old bull-rider is survived by his 4-year-old daughter whom Allen had with Nyteshea Haywood
The pair had attended the fair together and later left for a bar. They then had an argument in which Allen said he wanted to return to Bagley’s apartment to pack his things, police said.
Upon arrival at the scene in the parking lot of the apartment complex, police discovered bullet holes coming from a nearby apartment belonging to Bagley.
Blood evidence was investigated outside of the apartment, indicating Allen had not been inside when he was shot, according to court documents.
Salt Lake City Police added there was ‘no indication of any forced entry or attempted forced entry into the apartment.’
Allen was the 23rd ranked bull-rider in the world according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Allen earned the nickname ‘Ouncie’ because he was ‘born small,’ according to Professional Bull Riders commissioner Sean Gleason. ‘He grew up to compete with a huge heart’
Explaining Allen’s death to their daughter was difficult, mother Nyteshea Haywood (pictured) said. ‘She loved her daddy. She loved him and loved him and loved him’
A witness confirmed that Allen had not attempted to force his way into Bagley’s apartment.
A report by FOX 13 said Bagley fired multiple rounds through the apartment’s glass door, striking Allen once through his torso.
Emergency medical care was provided to Allen before he was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
Allen was ranked 23rd in the world in bull riding with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Sean Gleason, commissioner and CEO of Professional Bull Riders, expressed his condolences to Mitchell’s family on Twitter.
‘We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Demetrius Allen, who fans knew as Ouncie Mitchell,’ Gleason said. ‘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.’
‘I don’t understand and I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to understand,’ Mitchell said. ‘The guy that would give the shirt off his back to anybody, why would you take his life away?
‘Every time I put my hand on a bull rope from now on it’ll be him right there in the back of my mind. He was a once-in-a-lifetime person and a once-in-a-lifetime family member and friend and more so, a brother.’
Police say Allen and Bagley had attended the Utah State Fair (pictured) before leaving for a bar. They then had an argument before they left for Bagley’s apartment complex
Allen was found with ‘at least one gunshot wound’ outside the 965 Central apartment complex in Salt Lake City. Police investigated blood found at the scene to bullet holes in the walls of Bagley’s apartment
Allen competed alongside his cousin, Ezekiel Mitchell. ‘He was a once-in-a-lifetime person and a once-in-a-lifetime family member and friend and more so, a brother’
‘She loved her daddy,’ Haywood said. ‘She loved him and loved him and loved him. It was always, ‘My daddy this, my daddy doing this, my daddy took me fishing.’
‘She loves her dad, and so having to break that news to her was a huge distraught.’
In extending his message to Allen’s family, Gleason also explained the meaning behind ‘Ouncie Mitchell.’
‘Ouncie got his name because he was born small,’ Gleason said. ‘He grew up to compete with a huge heart.’
Police said the incident was isolated and was related to a domestic dispute between Allen and Bagley with ‘no threat to the public at this time.’
Bagley is currently being held at Salt Lake County Metro Jail without bond.
Detectives at the Salt Lake City Police Department are continuing to investigate.
Allen competed alongside his father, Demetrius ‘Teaspoon’ Mitchell, early into his bull-riding career. Mitchell said Allen first fell in love with the sport at 2 years old
Mitchell said he opposed Allen’s mother, Laquita, suggesting their son participate in a ‘mutton busting’ competition: ‘Do you know what you just did? You messed up everything, because I don’t want him to ride bulls’
Before he became known as ‘Ouncie Mitchell,’ Allen shared his father’s ‘Teaspoon’ nickname
Allen fist started bull-riding when he was 2 years old in Fresno, Texas. Before he was known as ‘Ouncie,’ he shared a nickname with his father, Demetrius ‘Teaspoon’ Mitchell.
His father recalled Allen entering in his first ‘mutton busting’ competition and said he did not want his son to become a bull rider, according to PBR.
‘Are you crazy?’ Mitchell remembers asking Allen’s mother, Laquita. ‘Do you know what you just did? You messed up everything, because I don’t want him to ride bulls.’
Allen became a professional bull rider at 18 years old and qualified for the 2019 PBR World Finals that same year. He competed alongside his father at the Bill Pickett Invitational, a traditionally all-black rodeo, in 2021.
‘It is amazing,’ Mitchell said. ‘What father wouldn’t want to be with their child?
‘He has been around it all my career since his mom entered him in the mutton busting. The boy wasn’t even walking all the way when he got started.’
Allen first rode a steer at 5 years old and he credits his father with teaching him how to ride.
‘I try to ride loose and cool and have fun,’ Allen said. ‘My dad used to always say, ‘Forget the form and make the horn.’ Whatever I have to do, just make it.’