Two now in custody for severely beating, robbing UofC student

Devin Preyer, above left, and Davonta Rozier

A University of the Cumberlands student had to undergo facial reconstruction surgery following a fight on campus Friday afternoon that sent two other men to jail on charges of assault and robbery.

Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird said that friends took the victim to Baptist Health in Corbin after the assault and he was later flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where he underwent reconstructive surgery the following day.
The victim is now home and recovering, a University of the Cumberlands’ spokesperson said Tuesday morning.

Devin "DP" Preyer, 21, of Williamsburg, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Williamsburg Police Department and charged with second-degree assault and robbery.

Early Monday afternoon, Williamsburg police arrested Davonta "DJ" Jerome Rozier, 23, of Williamsburg, and charged him with second-degree assault and complicity to commit robbery.

Both were arrested without incident and lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

The incident allegedly took place about 3 p.m. Friday behind Rob Cook Hall.

Preyer told police that Zane Parker, the victim, allegedly threw a punch at him so he fought back punching and kicking Parker, which caused serious physical injury to the victim’s head and face, according to his arrest citation.

Preyer also allegedly stole the victim’s computer after the assault and told him, "I will blow your brains out," Lt. Jim Pool wrote on the arrest citation.

Bird said that both Preyer and Rozier allegedly went to Knoxville after the assault, destroyed the computer and threw it in an apartment complex dumpster.

Knoxville police recovered the computer for Williamsburg police.

Bird said that it isn’t clear what lead up to the assault.

He said authorities are still trying to piece together what happened but apparently the victim had some property stolen and confronted the suspects about a month ago believing that they stole it.

Police think this might be what sparked the incident Friday.

Bird said that Preyer allegedly kicked and punched the victim several times according to witnesses and the victim, but that

Rozier only threw a couple of punches.

Preyer is the one who allegedly took the small computer out of the victim’s backpack, Bird said.

Both Rozier and the victim are students at Cumberlands. Preyer is a former Cumberlands student.

Preyer was dismissed from the university in the fall of 2014. As part of his dismissal, Preyer was permanently barred from campus and Preyer is also being charged with criminal trespassing because of this, the university said in a prepared statement.

"This is a sad, unfortunate situation," said Leslie Ryser, Cumberlands’ Director of Communications. "In general, we have a very safe campus. Incidents of this kind are extremely rare. We are fully cooperating with the Williamsburg Police Department and are assisting with this investigation."

In regards to Rozier’s continued status as a student at the school, Ryser noted, "our student judicial review process is underway. We expect to have a decision regarding Mr. Rozier and his status at the university very soon."

cooperating with police, Bird noted.

Bird said that when Preyer learned police were looking for him Friday he turned himself in at the police department.

Police picked up Rozier from his residence Monday.

Preyer pled not guilty to the charges during his arraignment Monday afternoon before District Judge Fred White.

White scheduled a Dec. 14 preliminary hearing in the case and set a $20,000 cash bond for Preyer. If Preyer is released from custody, he is ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Rozier is expected to be arraigned Thursday. He is also being held in lieu of a $20,000 cash bond.

Pool is leading the investigation and was assisted by Bird and Williamsburg Police Officer Ashley Wampler.

As part of its investigation, Cumberlands asks anyone with information about the incident to contact campus safety at 539-4444 or the Williamsburg Police Department at 549-6038.