Joshua Davis, 18
July 10, 2007 | 4:19
pm
Joshua Davis, 18, a young black man, was shot in the 1900 block of Thoreau Street in Athens about 1:05 a.m. Tuesday, July 3 . He died at 1:15 a.m. He was standing near a parked car when three people drove by in a light-colored car and shot him. He died at the scene.
See dispatch: "I told him I didn't want him to leave this world."
Well, this blog certainly is a downer. And I'm not saying it shouldn't be done. What is becoming eye-opening to me is, after having read it every so often and posted once in a while, when I go back to it later, I have to page down a ways to get back to where I left off. When I page down, I see all these new names and faces. All these new dead people, new dots on the map. All of them with their own coroner's number. You would think that the killers could take a day off, but they never do. Homicide after homicide, all of them senseless. "Where you from?" asked again and again, then gunfire.
Happy Fourth of July, Los Angeles. Would you folks with guns please not shoot handguns into the air this holiday? My Fourth of July wish is that when I next look at this blog, after the holiday, I will not see any homicides due to stray bullets from this kind of activity. Especially of children. Please.
Posted by: Gabe Fuentes | July 03, 2007 at 04:42 PM
Gabe,
I am also amazed with all the senseless killings in Los Angeles, I guess there is no right answer to "where you from".
When will more people get tired of all the crime commited by young gang members and do something to bring about change. I guess the people in the Los Angeles are expecting some miracle solution from the government or police. The solution with the gang problem starts at home with every parent.
Posted by: FC | July 03, 2007 at 09:55 PM
It is a same that we are taking out our own kind and we wonder why we are the minority instead of the majority like we were before. We need to live and left people live. What if someone drove by and killed one of your family members how would you feel? Well, that person that you killed parents, grandparents, uncle, aunt feel that same way... JUST REMEMBER WHAT GOES AROUND COMES BACK 100 TIMES WORST.
Posted by: DIANE | July 04, 2007 at 06:29 PM
I don't disagree with you that more individual responsibility and more revulsion in the community are necessary, but as I've said on this blog before, I also think the families and the community need more support, in the form of a type of "Marshall Plan" that would include effective social programs and witness protection, coupled with a stepped-up law enforcement presence.
I'm not sure everybody would welcome the latter, which I would envision as a virtual 24/7 police presence in the places like Hollenbeck, Newton, 77th, and Southwest, along with extensive pole-cam surveillance and real-time monitoring. Witness what has gone on at Skid Row. LAPD has made great strides in pacifying that area, but its critics are many, and the results don't seem to be very important to the critics. Do the ends justify the means? It depends on what the ends and means are. Significantly curbing the kind of bloodshed we are seeing here is a pretty important end. I don't know whether the affected communities would accept a stepped-up LAPD presence and what that would entail. I just don't think one can say the community can continue without it when homicides continue to happen, and when the witnesses often scoff and laugh at the LAPD when they get there to investigate. Investigation alone doesn't seem to be working. We need more pro-active prevention.
Also, the cost of all this would be spread well beyond those communities and over many years, and I question whether the rest of the community cares enough to make that kind of long-term, extensive financial commitment. Just read this blog. I get the feeling that it's not a very well-read blog. People who knew the victims read it. A few cops probably read it. A few LA crime buffs like me read it. But I don't see it reaching the constituency it needs to reach if it is to help effect any kind of broad societal response. The politics of the past 20 years or so have led a lot of people to argue that government can do no good and should be strangled, but that is wrong, and government is uniquely positioned to apply the needed tourniquet -- and not a band-aid.
You also need more leadership from your mayor on this one.
Posted by: Gabe Fuentes | July 05, 2007 at 12:32 PM
hi this is ex i use to go to 135th street school with him he was my frist i'm sorry that happen to him but he is in a better place if u need antthing call me 1310 679 8700 my name is amber
Posted by: amber tyson | July 06, 2007 at 12:02 AM
HAPPY MEMORIES ,YOU WILL BE TRULY MISS JOSHSA DAVIS MAY GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE . THE COLE FAMILY DEE DEE, KHADIJAH. TREVALLE
Posted by: sandra mathews | July 08, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Joshua Gregory Davis aka lucky i miss him so much i loved him a lot and i hope he is doing good with god and uncle greg and aunt lisa keep it to gether and it will be all good
Posted by: larry davis jr (cusin) | July 14, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Increase the Peace
Posted by: Mike | July 14, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't gain...To my brother and sister, Look to the Hills from whence cometh your help all your help comes from the Lord...Hold to God's unchanging hand...I love you and will be there for you no matter what...Josh will truly be missed but we thank God for his time on earth with us...Just know that we are right here for you.
Posted by: Auntie Kim, Uncle Vinnie and Twonnie... | July 18, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Remember Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't gain....Sister and Brother continue to look to the Hills from whence cometh your help all your help comes from the Lord...We know that Josh was a child of God because we have heard him send up powerful prayers on Sunday morning and he was always so proud to do anything regaining God vineyard...so we know that he is up in Heaven with Jesus.. Lisa and Greg, just know that the Hills are right there for you..Sister as we always said that WE WOULD RIDE UNTIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF...AND WE TOOK THAT RIDE TOGETHER.
Love all of you. Keep your head up..God will not leave you nor forsake you He will give you the strength you need.
Posted by: Auntie Kim, Uncle Vinne & Twon | July 18, 2007 at 08:54 AM
this blog IS sad ... but it's better than living in denial with what's happening in parts of our city.
I don't know any of these kids (that's what they are, mostly kids), or even live in their neighborhoods, but my heart goes out to their families and friends .... really sad.
Posted by: David in Los Angeles | July 22, 2007 at 07:03 AM
WUZZ GOOD BIG LUCKY I KNOW U SOMEWHERE BETTER NOW.THIS YA LIL HOMIE WILD LUCKY IMMA SEE YOU SOON
R.I.P BIG LUCKY A.K.A JRTEEFLIL
SUNRISE-11.11.88 SUNSET-7.3.07
U WILL NEVER BE FORGETTON
Posted by: anthony | April 18, 2008 at 11:08 PM