The Murder of Shawn Davis - Justice Served?

Cedar Posts has long said that the African American Community has become a culture of violence, embracing criminality and gun play.

Charlotte's Mayor Vi "Queen Bee" Lyles says that Charlotte is "by and large a safe city" discounting the violent murder of Iryna Zarutska as a need to take better care of homeless and mentally unfit.

Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown was indicted in May 2025 on federal wire fraud and conspiracy charges related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $124,000 in COVID-19 relief loans. The local black caucus endorsed another candidate by just one vote narrowly beating Brown in BPC voting, 46–45. 

45 black members who are Charlotte residents voted in favor of endorsing Brown knowing full well that Brown had been convicted twice before of fraud charges and even served time in prison. These members of the Black Political Caucus are embracing criminality as an accepted way of life.

The same is true for Vi Lyles who clearly accepts crime and violence as a way of life in the city. Her unwillingness to address crime is stunning. Still she claims Uptown is safe, yet has demanded round the clock security protection of two CMPD officers for herself.

On Saturday morning just after 4 am Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit began a homicide investigation in the 5000 block of East Independence Blvd. in the Independence Division.

Upon arrival they found Mr. Shawn Taliesin Davis II, 31 a known felon with multiple gun shot wounds.

Shawn Taliesin Davis II Photo Courtesy MCSO

After reports of shots were fired in the 5000 block of East Independence Blvd were received, uniformed officers in marked patrol cars, working in an off-duty capacity nearby responded. 

Officers discovered in total three victims with gunshot wounds. Two subjects self-transported to a local hospital. Mr. Shawn Davis was transported by MEDIC and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command, Charlotte Fire Department and MEDIC also assisted.

Mr. Davis was recently released from the Mecklenburg County jail after murder charges were dismissed. Davis had been held since February of 2024 for the murder of 17-year-old, Murahnee Johnson.

Despite the murder charge being dropped he still had other arrests pending, yet was allowed to walk free.

Had Mr. Davis been held on those charges pending trial he would be alive today.

Background CMPD Arrest Affidavit Davis Charged with Murder

On December 27, 2023, CMPD Officers responded to the 1600 block of Long Talon Way in reference to multiple calls for service for Shots Fired and Suspicious Person knocking on doors. 

Upon arrival, Officers were approached in the street by 17-year-old Juvenile victim, CF who was suffering from gunshot wound to the chest. Juvenile victim CF informed officers that his friend had been shot as well but could not advise where his friend was. 

Officers canvased the area and located 17-year-old, Murahnee Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, on paved walkway between two houses on Long Talon Way. 

Medic responded and attempted lifesaving measures. Johnson was pronounced deceased by Medic on scene

at 0259 hrs. Juvenile victim CF was transported to CMC-Main where he was treated and released for his injuries.

Homicide Detectives, Crime Scene Search, and the Medical Examiner's Investigator responded to the scene. Several discharged cartridge casings and projectiles were found and collected from the roadway and around the body of Johnson.

At least three separate homes nearby had been shot into during the incident with no injuries to the occupants inside the residences.

Eyewitnesses reported to hearing 20-25 gunshots and observing black BMW park near the location, male exited the vehicle and walked along the side of house (where Johnson was later found) before returning to the vehicle and driving away at high rate of speed.

Based on eyewitnesses' accounts, both victims and two suspects arrived in the neighborhood in the suspect vehicle, black BMW. They exited the suspect vehicle (parked on the side of the road) and began walking down the street. While they walked, suspect #1, without provocation, turned around and shot both victims in the street. 

Both suspects went to the victims who lay on the ground and began searching them, taking firearm and cell phone from Johnson and firearm from juvenile victim CF.

The suspects got back into the suspect vehicle and drove away, leaving both injured victims on the ground.

Both injured victims got up and met near the sidewalk. They heard the vehicle coming back into the area, so they both ran away in different directions.

The suspects gave chase and ultimately caught up with Johnson who appeared to be hiding in bush between two houses. The suspect/s shot Johnson multiple times at close range resulting in his death.

Crime Stoppers tip led to the possible identification of one of the suspects, Shawn Taliesin Davis Jr. 02/26/1994. While researching Mr. Davis, it was discovered that he has 2003, black BMW 745 LI, registered to him in North Carolina. 

During recent arrest interview, Davis reported that he owns and drives black BMW.

Juvenile victim CF reported that he and deceased victim, Johnson have socialized with suspect #1 on at least two other occasions prior to the incident.

On February 9, 2024, Juvenile victim CF positively identified photo of Shawn Taliesin Davis Jr as the suspect who shot him on the night of the incident. 

Separate from the victim, witness that was present with both victims during one of the previous encounters with suspect #1, positively identified photo of Shawn Taliesin Davis Jr. as the subject they were socializing with. 

Shawn Taliesin Davis Jr.'s prior felony conviction information is as follows: Date of Conviction: March 6, 2017 Date of Offense: October 3, 2015 Maximum Punishment: 6-17 Months

Sentence: Probation 24 Months

Type of Plea: Guilty Court and State: Cleveland County Superior Court NC

copy of his criminal history has been presented to the Magistrate.

This detective is seeking warrants for 1st degree Murder, Attempted 1st degree Murder, (2) Counts Robbery with dangerous weapon, Possession of firearm convicted Felon, and (3) Counts of discharging firearm into occupied property.

Case Dismissed

The in May of 2025 the Mecklenburg Assistant DA folds like a lawn chair.

The undersigned prosecutor provides the following additional information pertaining to the dismissal entered in this case: 

On December 27, 2023, multiple 911 callers reported hearing shots fired in residential neighborhood. As police officers arrived at the scene, teenager approached and reported that he and his friend had both been shot. 

Medics transported him to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wound to his upper chest. Officers located his friend, Murahnee Johnson, lying in the tree line between the back yards of two homes, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. 

Medics pronounced Mr. Johnson deceased on scene.

Homicide detectives obtained surveillance video from homes in the neighborhood, but none of these videos captured the shooting or any suspects. 

Crime scene investigators located discharged cartridge cases from multiple different calibers of firearms on scene. Next to Mr. Johnson, they located an empty rifle magazine and rifle scope. 

Homicide detectives interviewed the teenager about this shooting on three separate occasions. His statements to police officers and detectives during this investigation contained numerous inconsistencies. 

Following their first two interviews, detectives viewed the contents of his cell phone, with his mother's consent. Photos and text messages contained in his phone contradicted many of his earlier statements. 

These inconsistencies and contradictions involved whether he and Mr. Johnson were armed with firearms at the time of these events, whether they knew the individuals with whom they met that night, for what purpose they met these individuals, and what, if anything, these individuals stole from them.

In February 2024, the teenager identified photograph of defendant as the perpetrator of this shooting. Detectives presented the evidence as it existed at that time to magistrate, who found probable cause to charge the defendant with the above-listed crimes.

Thereafter, detectives arrested and interviewed the defendant, who eventually admitted he was present when the shooting took place. He said he was with Mr. Johnson and the teenager when another person who was present got into an altercation with them. 

He described an exchange of gunfire in which this other person fired back after Mr. Johnson fired first. He adamantly denied shooting anyone.

Although Defendant admitted he was present at the scene of Mr. Johnson's murder, our appellate courts have repeatedly held that mere presence at the scene of crime is not sufficient evidence for conviction. 

Despite thorough investigation, no other physical or testimonial evidence is available to corroborate the teenager's statements regarding how this shooting took place, or his identification of the defendant as the perpetrator. 

The State's ability to secure conviction in this case depends almost entirely on the teenager's testimony. 

Given the inconsistencies in his various statements to police about this incident, and the corresponding detrimental effect on his credibility, the State does not have reasonable likelihood of proving this case beyond reasonable doubt to unanimous jury, and justice requires that the case be dismissed.

Cedar's Take

For members of the Black Community Mr. Davis' death is nothing more than taking out the trash. An accepted fact of normalcy in Charlotte. Something that just happens. After all "By and Large Charlotte is a Safe City". 

But still this form of "street justice" is costly and it degrades the quality of life in all of Charlotte. As the city grows we also spread crime beyond the confines of "Da Ford" and "Da Creek" so that it is no longer just a West Charlotte issue or a fact of life in Hidden Valley or East Charlotte it it has spread to Ballantyne, and Rea Road and Independence and slowly seeping into Lake Norman and Waxhaw and Indian Land.

Charlotte has no leaders just potted plants who sit in expensive chairs on the dais in the Government center and seldom do anything but suck in oxygen and a salary.