"I told him I didn't want him to leave this world."

(Joshua Davis,18, with his father, Greg Davis, above. Left, Greg and Lisa Davis at home 33 hours after Joshua's murder (see entry below).

Joshua Davis was tall and skinny and chocolate-brown. The middle child, he filled his parents' house with laughter--and a certain amount of drama.

Asked what the 18-year-old liked most to do, his parents, Greg and Lisa Davis, answered in unison: "Dance." He loved music and singing, too. He played the drums in church. He played basketball before dropping out of Washington High School. He worked as a prep cook at the Red Lobster restaurant in Inglewood.

Joshua was walking back to the front door after seeing his girlfriend off just after 1 a.m. Tuesday. His parents were inside their Athens house, asleep. Drive-by shooters came down the block, headlights off.

At the sound of the gunfire, Lisa Davis bolted from bed and cried out Joshua's name.

Joshua was lying between the house and curb. He had a bullet wound in the back of his head. He was still breathing. There was blood coming out of his mouth. His parents crouched down. "I told him I loved him," Greg Davis said. "I told him I didn't want him to leave this world." Joshua died before their eyes on the pavement.

Greg Davis works security. His wife works in construction administration. They live in a yellow house in a nice neighborhood of trimmed green lawns and curvy streets. They have lived there about seven years.

Their daughter, age 9, was also shot in a drive-by shooting four years ago--just around the corner. Struck in the back, she underwent surgery and survived. Police arrested a suspect. He was 13. The daughter was also was on hand Tuesday to witness her older brother's murder. Her parents are worried about her.

Less than two days after the murder, neither Greg nor Lisa Davis had slept. Their eyes were red from weeping. Still, they managed a cordial welcome for a reporter who showed up without warning on the doorstep. Joshua's brother, 20, introduced himself with solemn formality and a handshake. Greg and Lisa offered a chair.

At one point, Lisa Davis said she "has so much anger," at the killers. But she did not appear angry. She wore a tired look and leaned on an elbow. Throughout the interview, husband and wife exchanged gentle glances, and finished each other's sentences. People came in and out, bringing trays of food. Everyone in the house spoke in soft voices, as if something fragile were about to break.

Comments

[deshawn]

i miss you lil brother my first best friend and my angel in heaven i love and i will never for get you yo big brother Deshawn Terriel Davis i love you

[katy m]

TO GREG AND LISA,
i am so sorry for your lost.
i cant even amagin the pain you have, all i did was read about joshua dieing and just started crying!
i wish i could take it back for you guys.

love katy m.

[mark lilly]

To the Davis Family- Greg, Lisa and Ashely,

I can only begin to imagine the unbearable pain you must feel. my son recently was very near death. For you to be suffering through this must be so incredibly insanely difficult. My heart goes out to you.

It is impossible for us to know why Joshua was called back to God so soon. God must have a big project for him, one that requires a true angel to undertake.

Blessings to you in this gravest time. Know that God has not abandoned you, and one day the grief will give way to joy, and one day you will be able to smile again and feel Joshua alive in your hearts.

Love,
mark

[ell]

Dear Davis Family,

I just pray a blessing of abundant peace on your entire family. I don't know how it feels to lose a child, but I have sons who have been faced with the same challenges of having to try and survive around cruel people. I pray God's comfort, and strength for you. I pray for peace that passes the human understanding on your hearts and minds. Take it one day at a time. Only God can heal and it takes Him and His time to do it. I will remember your family in my prayers. God bless...

[REZINA]

TO THE ENTIRE DAVIS FAMILY,

LIKE THE REST I COUNLD'NT BEGAN TO SAY I FEEL YOUR PAIN. BUT I KNOW IF YOU ASKED YAHWEH FOR STRENTH AND GUIDANCE HIS SPIRIT WILL LEAD YOU IN THE RIGHT PATH.

MY SPIRIT AND HEART GOES OUT TO YOU!!

JUS T A CONCERN ED CITIZEN OF WATTS

[Tookie]

First and foremost, I would like to express my condolences to the Davis family. May the Lord bring you strength and peace in your time of need. I am the mother of a 13-year-old son and to say that facing this would be my ABSOULTE WORST NIGHTMARE is an understatement. Everyday I read this blog my heart aches for the families of these victims. But what gets me almost even more is when someone passes judgement on how a parent, spouse, child or even a friend should display their grief. To make such a rude and insensitive comment directed towards a family that probably IS IN SHOCK, is totally uncalled for.

It is sad to say I have experienced the loss of many friends and family members. TO EVEN THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD POSSIBLY BE PREPARED FOR THIS IS INSANE. I believe that Jill Levoy's mission in doing this blog was to not only chronicle every homicide in Los Angeles County, but in part to pay tribute to victims that our local and national television stations and newspapers find unworthy of reporting.

One of the main reasons that this world is so screwed up is because of people placing judgements and assuming negative assumptions about others. I have often thought about how many people in my neighborhood and surrounding areas fall victim to senseless and heartbreaking crimes. Now that this blog is doing what it was set up to do, I wish I would have never even had those kind of thoughts answered.

I pray all day, 24/7 for the Lord Jesus Christ to protect my boy and everyone else close to me. I also pray for this madness to cease. It's hard enough to raise children and prepare them for the future, but I imagine it's a million times more horrible to prepare yourself to bury your child.

Lastly, if this was my blog (I know it isn't), I would state:

IF YOU HAVE WORDS OTHER THAN COMFORT, LOVE, AND SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILIES OR INFORMATION THAT MAY SOLVE A SENSELESS MURDER, SAVE IT...........

Being cruel and ignorant is how we got here in the first place.

Ms. Tookie Daniels - Los Angeles, CA

[Anthony (Tony) Scott]

Greg & Lisa

Hey Greg, its been a number of years since I have seen you. I am no longer living in CA. I am deeply saddened by the loss of you beloved son. I pray that God would just keep his loving arm around your family. I can't imagine what you're going through. If you need anything please feel free to call me. You can contact me through Pam, Sterling or My aunt at Chapel of Peace.
Tony

[ruben]

My Condolences to your family i hope you find the strength to get through this, and i know justice will be served to the guys that took your son either here on earth or in the afterlife. May your son rest in peace

Ruben East Los Angeles

[Lezear (BB) Mosley]

Greg & Lisa,
I'm deeply sorry & sadden upon hearing the news about your son Joshua. I know as a father, it had to be the hardest thing in life for you both to endure. I too am a father of three boys ages 16,12 & 9 and couldn't imagine the grief, pain and anger I would feel if they were prematurely taken away. Be strong, loving and supportive to each other in your time of pain and sorrow. May God bless you and keep you in his loving arms of peace. I pray Joshua's in a place of peace and serenity & will continue to pray for you, your family and this selfish unloving world we live in. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to call. 818-807-3605

Peace & Blessing
BB

[LANA VASQUEZ]

GREG, LISA DAVIS,

MY DEEPEST SORROW GOES OUT YOUR FAMILY, I LOOK AT YOUR PICTURES AND YOU JUST GOT TO BE THE STRONGEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO YOU. I TO HAVE A SON ONLY 12 YEARS, AND GANG MEMBERS HARRASS HIM AND WHICH HE NOR I ARE GANG MEMBERS. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU .

SINCERLY: LANA VASQUEZ

FROM MONTEBELLO

[Delia]

To the Davis Family-Greg, Lisa and Ashely,
it is with sincere prayers that I send this e-mail to you. Your loss is heaven's gain, but too young. The Lord needed another line cook to work for Him in heaven. I too feel your pain. I knew Joshua as a PRAYER WARRIOR and a young man with a HUGE HEART. I was glad he came into my life. I will misss our talks on the church parking lot and in VBS. He was a pure delight to have in class. I will miss his hugs and his smile. He had a way of letting me know he was heading in the right direction. The Lord told us "vengence is mine," and I truly believe the Lord will pour out His vengence for the cowards who shot my "prayer warrior and line cook." Rest in peace Joshua, but make sure you cook the Lord some down home greens. I Love you Davis Family and you know you are in my prayers.

[Mia]

Greg, You make us smile every morning. I only hope in the days and months ahead we can do the same for you. My thoughts are with you and Lisa. I pray your family will find peace during this very sad time. May God be with you.

[Christine]

Oh my God, this is so horrible. =(
Rest in Peace

[sandra]

To Mr. and Mrs. Davis: Our most heartfelt prayers are with you and your daughter in the loss of Joshua. As parents, our hearts hurt for you all. There are no words or actions which can express the sorrow we feel for your loss. Our family will remember you in our prayers always.

[windu]

I wish I could understand this city but I just don't. I'm from Georgia, I've been here for 15 years, and I don't get it. I don't understand why the streets are so violent. I don't understand why this family did not leave the neighborhood, city, or even the state after their 9-year-old daughter was shot. I'm not blaming, I know there's a reason, but I just can't imagine not leaving California the next day and never looking back. The photo caption of the Davises notes that it was taken just 33 hours after their son's murder, and I'm guessing the Times included that fact because of how poised they look. It is so so sad to me that they could even stand, much less talk to a reporter and look anyway other than completely distraught. That says so much about their expectations. They were utterly prepared for it to happen. Even Iraqi families in the middle of a war appear to be more shocked at their losses. I don't understand why everyone in Los Angeles seems to accept the violence as "the way it is." I just don't understand.

[cousin kay]

to my cousins greg and lisa, I can not imagine having cared for a child, fed, clothed, comforted, and counciled him, trying to lead him down the right path as he grows, only to have the devil just come and take his life before it really got started. I just pray that our God gives you the strength to bare the emptyness you are feeling. just know that joshua touched a lot of lifes here with his sweet spirit and his sense of humor. Josh, as you sit at the feet of Jesus know you are loved. the words your father had you saying at the age of two, before you could even talk clearly, " peace in the middle east.". love you. cousin kay

[Nathan Govan]

I used to live in Californina and I 'tune' into these reports just to remind myself of why I left there. In the grand scheme of things, the murder rate in LA is not 'above average' in terms of murders per capita. As a parent, I beg all of you in California (LA specifically) to leave for greener pastures. Take your kids, if you love them, and move them to a location where they have the opportunity to succeed. It appears to me that staying in Los Angeles ,for some of our black youth is akin to a death sentence. What does the weather benefit of being in LA mean when you are not here to enjoy it? Take your kids and leave... I am proof that life is different outside of LA.

[Tony]

It deeply disturbs me when innocent young black men like Joshua Davis, apparently a hardworking young man with a sense of responsibility are not only taken away from their families, but from the community as a whole.

I wish I could feel compassion or understanding for those who participate in gangs, drugs and the violence that accompany them, but I can't.

I am only able to focus my compassion and sympathy on this family, and offer my deepest condolences.

I have a son not much older than Joshua, and I can't even imagine the pain, and loss this family is feeling now.

[Regina]

I am very sad to read yet another entry on the homicide page. This was truly a senseless murder. I hope that the COWARDS who go around shooting our young are caught and are locked up in a prison on some sort of chain-gang where they will have to endure pain each and every day. There are no words that can ease the pain of Joshua's family.

I too, pray that God will give you the strength to endure your loss.

Regina, Compton

[Ice-T]

You got to get out of the killing fields. Escape now, escape now. Just drive, get on the highway and go. Anything would be better than a sure death for you or your kids. Make the choice and live.

[PRINCESS]

SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, VERY UNCALLED FOR! MAY YOUR CHARM GLOW IN THE HEAVENLY SKIES REST IN PEACE. YES IT WAS TOO SOON FOR HIM TO LEAVE THIS WORLD. I HOPE HIS EVIL HUNDRED DIFFERENT NAMES I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COWARDS THAT COMMITTED THIS CRIME ARE CAUGHT, IT'S TOO BAD THAT MANY OF THESE CHILDREN TODAY HAVE POOR EXCUSES FOR MOTHERS AND DEAD BEAT DADS WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN WE NEED MORE LOVE IN THIS WORLD MAINLY FROM FAMILY NOT JUST FRIENDS. YOUNG ONE YOU ARE WITH YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, KEEP SMILING.

[Heidi Robertson]

To the Davis Family,

My deepest condolences to you on the loss of your beloved Joshua. I know Greg through his work and he adds a ray of sunshine to the days of all those who come in contact with him. I'm sure that Joshua was a source of love and light to your family and that you will miss him terribly. The death of a child is an unspeakable loss and, as a mother, I cannot begin to imagine your pain.

May God grant you the strength to endure this tragedy.

Sincerely,
A Saddened Friend

[EICA [E]

IM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU .I HAVE A 18 YR OLD SON THATS GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE IN AUG.I LOSS TWO FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO VIOLENCE IN THE CITY COMPTON.JULY 4 -2004IN LOST MY COUSIN AND JUST IN 06-04-07 JUST LOST MY UNCLE .THIS GANGBANGERS NEEDS TO BE ALL PUT TOGETHER AND SENT AWAY TO IRAQ.ITS HARD FOR YOUNG BLACK BOYS THAT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO SURVIE THESE STREETS,I PRAY OVER MY BOYS EVERY NIGHT.WE NEED TO GETHER AND WALK THESE A LET THESE GANG BANGERS KNOW THAT WE OUR TRIED

[EICA [E]

IM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU .I HAVE A 18 YR OLD SON THATS GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE IN AUG.I LOSS TWO FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO VIOLENCE IN THE CITY COMPTON.JULY 4 -2004IN LOST MY COUSIN AND JUST IN 06-04-07 JUST LOST MY UNCLE .THIS GANGBANGERS NEEDS TO BE ALL PUT TOGETHER AND SENT AWAY TO IRAQ.ITS HARD FOR YOUNG BLACK BOYS THAT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO SURVIE THESE STREETS,I PRAY OVER MY BOYS EVERY NIGHT.WE NEED TO GETHER AND WALK THESE A LET THESE GANG BANGERS KNOW THAT WE OUR TRIED

[EICA [E]

IM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU .I HAVE A 18 YR OLD SON THATS GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE IN AUG.I LOSS TWO FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO VIOLENCE IN THE CITY COMPTON.JULY 4 -2004IN LOST MY COUSIN AND JUST IN 06-04-07 JUST LOST MY UNCLE .THIS GANGBANGERS NEEDS TO BE ALL PUT TOGETHER AND SENT AWAY TO IRAQ.ITS HARD FOR YOUNG BLACK BOYS THAT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO SURVIE THESE STREETS,I PRAY OVER MY BOYS EVERY NIGHT.WE NEED TO GETHER AND WALK THESE A LET THESE GANG BANGERS KNOW THAT WE OUR TRIED

[K.Winn]

It's bad enough that the thuggish Black young men are killing each other but it's worse when they are taking out young Black men who are trying to make something out of their life; who's trying to do the right thing; who has goals and a future. When will these killings stop? Why can't we be up in arms about this like people were about Paris Hilton? Where is the outrage from our so-called Black leaders? My heart continues to break for these families..especially parents..who are constangly burying their children..May God sustain the Davis family in their time of sorrow.

[Sean E.]

To my family, I love you with all of my heart. I pray for strength during this time of sorrow(This To Shall Pass). Time heals all wounds and Joshua's untimely death will definitely leave a permanent scar. To my Uncle Greg the strength that you have displayed the last 24 hours is courageous I love you, if you need me don't hesitate to call. Auntie Lisa you are a strong woman I will continue to pray for you. I will truly miss Joshua's smile and his sense of humor, with God's healing hand He will mend our broken hearts.
Much Love
Sean E.

[bllacc]

I am deeply disturbed by your loss, but our black youth are terribly misguided, I hope that your family can hold on and stay strong for each other. peace and love, m.davis

[neil prasad]

May god help and guide Joshua's family through this difficult time. GOD BLESS YOU

[B. Stevens]

I just want to give my condolences to the family for this terrible loss. I am not from a neighborhood where you have to constantly keep your eyes open for trouble but I do know that this is happening all too often. Our generation seems to be killing eachother off for stupid reasons, like the color of someone's clothing or skin. I hope that this family can find closure with an arrest of the assailants(who will no doubt rot in a jail cell for their natural born life), but nothing can ever replace the loss of a loved one. Once again, I am so sorry for your loss.