ST. LOUIS, MO (August 26, 2024) — Louzell Davis Jr., 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of J.A., 14, on December 3, 2022, in the 5300 block of Northland Avenue in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

Davis’s teenaged son, L.D., had been killed the previous evening while with a group of juveniles attempting to steal a car. The owner of the car, who was in the vehicle, shot him. The next day Davis and his father, Louzell Davis Sr., went to a house where J.A. was staying with relatives and confronted J.A. about L.D.’s death. The two boys were friends who had grown up together. After a brief angry conversation, Davis took J.A. onto the porch and shot him 12 times.

Multiple witnesses at the scene identified Davis as the shooter. He admitted to being at the scene and talking to J.A. but denied shooting him. Davis, who has an extensive criminal record, will serve a total of 20 years in prison; 17 for the murder and three years to be served consecutively for armed criminal action.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Kerri Davis.

“The killing of this teenaged boy will not bring Davis’s son back,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It only perpetuates violence and brings heartache to another family. Holding this defendant accountable is the least we can do.”

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