LANCASTER – Local organizers from The Community Action League and The AV-Nation of Islam held a press conference Friday morning to ask the public to help bring justice to the shooting death of Michael Davis.
Calling for an end to senseless violence in the Antelope Valley, the conference took place at the Sierra Villa Apartments, where the victim was gunned down on June 26 and left to die in a parking lot in the 600 block of East Avenue H-14.
Davis, 22, was shot multiple times in his upper body following a dispute with the suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Homicide Bureau. Davis apparently was upset and demanded money for veterinary care after the suspect struck and injured his dog, according to officials.
Flanked by family and supporters of the shooting victim, organizers called for the alleged gang-affiliated suspect to surrender himself to authorities.
“Michael Davis should not have been gunned down the way he was gunned down,” Ansar “Stan” Muhammad, co-founder of the Community Action League, told the public. “This man was not only a beautiful soul, but he had a child, and he had a child on the way. And he was seeking justice for his dog. So, we’re asking for this perpetrator to turn himself in immediately.”
TCAL co-founder Pharaoh Mitchell called out the suspect at-large, saying, “You were scared enough and coward enough to pick up a gun and shoot somebody, but you are not man enough to turn yourself in and face the consequences of taking this young brother’s life.”
Mitchell addressed members of the community, imploring them to stop targeting themselves with ongoing violence.
“What you don’t understand is that the more you cause chaos in our community, the more our community of people – African-American and Latino community members and others – are being targeted because of your stupidity,” Mitchell said. “All of our lives matter.”
Yolanda Davis, the mother of the shooting victim, gathered enough strength to speak to the community about her son, saying, “My son was not a gang-banger, he was no thug, and he did not run in the streets. He did not deserve to be gunned down like this. It’s not fair to his son, and it’s not fair to his unborn baby.”
Deba Harper, CEO and founder of CHAMP Community Foundation, said she, as a mother, understands how devastating it is to lose a child to senseless violence, but finds it difficult to comprehend how people fail to value lives within their own community.
“This young brother, Michael Davis, had sympathy and compassion for his community, caring about the life of his dog – and for another person that looks like him, to have the audacity to shoot him down like a dog – how do we expect anyone else to feel that black lives matter if we don’t feel that black lives matter?”
Ansar Muhammad agreed, saying, “We cannot point our finger at nobody – we’re doing this to ourselves.”
To bring attention to the ongoing issue of violence in the community, he announced he is helping to organize locals to participate in the 20th Anniversary gathering of the Million Man March this October in Washington D.C.
But closer to home, Muhammad said his organization is calling on local officials to “invest some of our important tax dollars into a citywide community-based intervention initiative that will focus on critical areas of our community.”
The initiative being proposed by the group includes a “safe passage of services” program that would offer professional conflict mediation and resolution services in communities throughout the Antelope Valley.
The group is also asking that trained community intervention workers be available 24 hours a day to “communicate with individuals to prevent the escalation of violence in personal conflicts,” he said.
The suspect in Davis’ shooting death is described by witnesses as a black male in his early 20s, possibly driving a black pickup truck, according to Sheriff’s officials.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact them at 323-890-5500. Tipsters may remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).
Previous related story: Man shot to death in Lancaster
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SoulFood says
Accidents do happen and sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. But wheres the Honesty about what your kids were doing. These Shootings are mostly Gang-Related but yet every Victim has never been a thug or gangbanged or has never caused trouble. uh yes they have and they were probably doing something they shouldn’t have. No one wants to admit their kid was in that life style but theres a reason why these shooting are GANG RELATED. The life lesson starts at home with real parenting and actually wanting to be involved in the lives of your children… Now a days so many younger parents want their kid to look the coolest with the best hats or have the most expensive Jordans on . buy them a book and spend your love with them .. I myself am a young parent and understand the value of showing tem the right path now before you cant show them anything . it all starts at home with love. Its sad to hear all the kids being left behind with no father or mother… but we choose our own fates. My heart goes out to the family. Make a change in this community. Its getting worse. lets live again AV
All Crime says
The community leaders should condemn more than just senseless violence. They should condemn (including but not limited to) car theft, car jacking, robbery, domestic violence, burglary, petty & grand theft, DUI, crack cocaine, carrying guns, etc., just to mention a few.
Chris says
Well i do not support the thug violence that occurs in the the Av however you have chosen to reside in the projects.
yabba says
So many knuckleheads posting ridiculous comments. So many trigger-happy fools out and about. Cowards when they shoot someone that is unarmed. R.I.P. young man.
Give the person up because you will be saving a life, which might just be you.
CAP'N LANCASTER says
This is a real tragedy here in our Vally. Condolences to the family. We hopes the perpetrators is brought to justice. Speakin of perpetrators, what about Ole Stan Muhammad? Who the heck gives a rat’s bee hind what the homophobic and anti Semite Stan Muhammad thinks. He is part of the problem not the solution. His kind of hate is nothin to be admired. It don’t matter ifs a person is gay, Jew, Muslim, black, white, Christian, Buddah, Asian, Arab, Hindu, Native American, Zulu, atheist, whatever. In Stan’s world if you is gay or Jewish you are bad. I wish I coulds have seen Ole Stan’s face when the Supreme Court leagalized gay marriage. He musta sheet his drawers. Just think iffen two gay Jewish folk done get hitched. Ole Stan’s head will explode.
AV Truth says
My heart breaks for this family.
..... says
Who gives a crap what color the victim was or what color the suspect is, the point here is that someone lost their life. I hope they find the P.O.S and give him what he deserves. THAT’S WHAT MATTERS!!!
Marie says
Somebody on that street has to know something from the dog incident to the shooting. Why they ain’t saying crap, but who knows? This family deserves justice, and why would you do it knowing the fact you at large. The only one that knows where he’s at it our Lord and Savior. I’ll be surprised if he’s watching this on the news, and reading our comments. If so you fugitive, please turn yourself in, and do what’s right, because at the end you’ll get it even worse. If you’re a father you should understand if you’re life was taken senseless. Put yourself in Michael Davis shoes. God is merciful.
sierrahwy says
cameras everywhere…somebody seen which way the truck went…follow the route to find the cameras
family says
There were no cameras unfortunately or else we would check them for answers