Keyawn Davis, a 44-year-old Black man who went by Keyawn (early reports also used Keon), was killed on July 22, 2026, inside It’Za Xotic, the Milwaukee smoke shop he owned near Appleton Avenue and Congress Street. Davis lived in Madison and had opened the northwest side shop a little more than a year earlier. Family members described him as a father and business owner whose death stunned relatives and prompted demands for justice.

Milwaukee police were called shortly before 11:45 a.m. After entering the shop an officer found Davis unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Investigators said surveillance footage and witness statements show Davis met with James Johnson Jr., known as Red, for about half an hour; prosecutors allege Johnson produced a firearm, shot Davis from behind, then locked the door and removed merchandise before leaving. A family member identified Johnson from surveillance images and a driver who had given Johnson a lift identified him in a photo lineup.

Prosecutors charged James Johnson Jr. on July 31, 2026, with first-degree intentional homicide, bail jumping and possession of a firearm by a felon. An arrest warrant led to a fugitive search; reporting shows Johnson was arrested in West Memphis, Arkansas, on August 27, 2026. The accused’s guilt is subject to proof in court.

Did anyone see Keyawn at the shop in the days before July 22 or have information about his business contacts?