Roy Lee Davis

A 20 year old is slain during a shootout
Roy Lee Jacquay Davis, a young man known to his many friends and loved ones as “President Dolo,” was regarded as a smart, funny, and ambitious leader in his community. The 20-year-old African-American man was remembered as a family-oriented person, an entrepreneur, and a rapper who was looked up to by many. Those who knew him left an outpouring of loving messages after his death, with tributes like “Long Live The President” and “I love you and miss you” showing how deeply his loss was felt. He had attended several schools in Minneapolis, including North High School and Edison High School.

The evening of Wednesday, May 4, 2016, was shattered by a barrage of gunfire in North Minneapolis. Roy was with a group of people gathered on the 1600 block of Newton Avenue North when, just before 9 p.m., at least one vehicle drove past. Multiple people inside the car opened fire on the group with handguns, shooting with what police described as "purpose" and "intentionally." The scene erupted into chaos as dozens of rounds were fired. Investigators believe it is likely that individuals in the targeted group returned fire.

When the shooting stopped, eight people had been hit. Roy Lee Davis was found at the scene and pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Seven other people were injured in the melee; two were transported to local trauma centers in critical condition, while five others took themselves to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The wounded included three women and four men, ranging in age from 20 to 27. The street was littered with more than four dozen shell casings, evidence of the intensity of the violence that had just occurred.

The Minneapolis Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, with detectives working numerous leads. They interviewed nearly a dozen witnesses, but investigators reported that several were uncooperative, which hampered their efforts to identify the people responsible. Police stated they believed the shooting was not random and was possibly gang- or drug-related, asserting that none of the victims were unintended targets. In the days following the shooting, well-wishers created a makeshift memorial at the scene, leaving balloons and other tokens of remembrance for Roy. At the request of nearby residents, police also installed a mobile camera unit at the intersection.

Despite the large number of victims and potential witnesses, the investigation into Roy’s murder has been met with silence. No suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the mass shooting. The case is a stark example of a trend that has frustrated both law enforcement and residents of Minneapolis, where a number of homicides remain unsolved due to a lack of community cooperation, often stemming from fears of retaliation.

Years later, Roy’s case remains open and unsolved, leaving his family and community without justice or closure. The pain of his absence is still fresh for those who loved him, who continue to post messages of remembrance for the young man they called their president. As of May 2016, the investigation was ongoing. The Minneapolis Police Department urges anyone with information about the shooting that killed Roy Lee Davis and injured seven others to come forward. Callers can provide information anonymously through the Crime Stoppers program at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).