On the morning of September 24, 2004, Butler University campus police officer James Davis, a 31-year-old Black man who had served nearly two years with the department, was killed while investigating a report of a suspicious person at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Witnesses had reported a man watching the women’s basketball team practice for an unusual amount of time. Officer Davis confronted the subject in the parking lot and radioed to verify the name given as Kevin Williams. During the contact the man attacked Davis, took his service weapon, and shot him in the head. Davis was critically injured and later died at a local hospital, leaving a wife and three young children.

The shooter fled, prompting a citywide search and nearby school lockdowns. About two and a half hours later deputies encountered the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Kahdir Al Khattab, a few blocks from campus. He fired the stolen weapon at deputies, who returned fire; Al Khattab was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in critical condition and died that evening. There were no arrests or trials in connection with the killing.

If anyone has information about the events that morning or knew Officer Davis, please share what you know.