After community struggle, Georgia agrees to investigate police killing of Kevin Davis

Atlanta — Community pressure has helped win a demand made by the family of Kevin Davis. Davis was a popular restaurant worker who was shot by DeKalb County Police Officer Joseph Pitts on Dec. 29, after Davis himself had called 911 for help. Davis died in the hospital two days later.

Speaking to a crowd gathered in front of the county courthouse on Feb. 11, Delisa Davis, one of Davis’ sisters, announced that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would be conducting an investigation into the shooting. The family was scheduled to meet with GBI officials on Feb. 13.

The crowd had marched two and a half miles from the scene of the shooting to the courthouse.

On Dec. 29, Davis had called 911 after his girlfriend was stabbed in the arm by a man who was temporarily staying at his apartment. Officer Pitts shot and killed Davis’ three-legged dog as he entered the apartment. Hearing the shots and fearing the assailant had come back armed, say witnesses, Davis grabbed his own gun. Pitts then fired at Davis as he came out of the bedroom where he had been tending to his girlfriend’s injuries.

Witnesses say Pitts never identified himself as a police officer or ordered Davis to drop his weapon before firing at him.

Davis was taken to the hospital in handcuffs and charged with assaulting an officer. His family was denied permission to visit him before he died.

Additional information can be found on Facebook at Justice for Kevin Davis.