Donnie Tunstall was known around the Dayton neighborhood as “Little Donnie.” But now, the name that once floated casually around the community is tied to something much darker. After nearly two years of court hearings, delays, and testimony, Tunstall has been sentenced to life in prison for the cold-blooded shooting of 43-year-old Daniel Burch.
The fatal shooting, which prosecutors described as a calculated and ruthless act, took place on a quiet summer afternoon in June 2021. It left not only one man dead, but an entire community shaken.
A Life Cut Short in the Blink of an Eye
It happened just before 1 p.m. on June 22, 2021. According to investigators, Burch was shot in the back near the BP gas station on Salem Avenue. The bullet tore through him before he could even turn around.
A 911 call came in minutes later, and when police arrived at the scene, they followed a trail that led them to a nearby alley on Lexington Avenue. There, crouched in the shadows, they found Tunstall—still holding the firearm that had taken a man’s life.
Daniel Burch was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital, but it was too late. Doctors fought to save him, but he died just two hours later.
“He didn’t even see it coming,” one witness told police. “It was like he just walked away and dropped. No warning. Nothing.”
The Trial That Brought It All to Light
Following his arrest, Tunstall was indicted on multiple charges: murder, felonious assault, having weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence.
During the trial, prosecutors painted a clear and chilling picture of what happened that day. They described how Tunstall, who was prohibited from owning a gun due to a prior felony, had deliberately pulled the trigger and ended a man’s life with a shot to the back.
The jury didn’t take long to reach a decision.
On September 11, 2023, Donnie Tunstall was found guilty of all charges. A month later, on October 18, the judge handed down the sentence: 26 years to life in prison.
A Community Looking for Closure
For many people in Dayton, the news of the shooting in 2021 was jarring. It didn’t just take place in a random part of the city—it happened in a spot where families pump gas, kids buy snacks, and neighbors cross paths on their way home.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard who it was,” said one longtime resident. “You hear the name ‘Little Donnie,’ and you think of someone who grew up around here. Not someone who’d do this.”
Now, with the sentencing complete, some in the community say they finally feel like justice has been served. But for others, the emotional wounds are still fresh.
Daniel Burch’s family has remained mostly private since the trial began, but a cousin who spoke outside the courthouse said, “We just want people to remember who he was. He wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
Bigger Questions Remain
The case has also sparked conversations about gun violence, criminal history, and how easily people with prior records can still access weapons.
“How did he even get a gun?” one resident asked. “This shouldn’t have happened. There’s something broken in the system if it lets this keep happening.”
Local leaders are now pushing for more community resources to help steer at-risk individuals away from violence before it’s too late. Some have also called for more mental health outreach and better communication between parole officers and law enforcement.
What’s Next for ‘Little Donnie’?
For Donnie Tunstall, the life he once lived on Dayton’s streets is over. He’ll now spend his days behind prison walls, far removed from the neighborhood he once called home.
For Daniel Burch’s loved ones, every court date, every headline, and every memory is a reminder of a life taken too soon.
And for the Dayton community, the hope now is that lessons can be learned, and that something good—whether that’s reform, prevention, or simply awareness—can come out of something so tragic.
