James Davis, 18

Oct. 14, 2010, 1:51 p.m.

James Davis, an 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police Thursday, Oct. 7, in the 2000 block of East 114th Street in Watts, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

LAPD officers patrolling the Imperial Courts housing projects shortly after 5 p.m. encountered a group of males. One of them ran away, police said.

The officers chased the suspect, later identified by the coroner's office as James Davis. According to LAPD officials, Davis pointed a gun at the officers, prompting at least one officer to fire a weapon.

After the shooting, police said an angry mob formed and they called a tactical alert. More than 50 squad cars responded to help with crowd control. The tactical alert was canceled at 6:45 p.m.

Davis was pronounced dead at St. Francis Medical Center, according to police. He suffered a gunshot wound to the back, according to coroner's records.

Police said a weapon was recovered from the shooting scene near 114th and Grape streets.

Watts is among the most dangerous areas patrolled by the LAPD or Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, according to The Times' Crime L.A. database, which analyzed six recent months of crime reports in order to compare areas communities.

Watts, which has about 41,000 residents reported 366 violent crimes -- homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault -- for the six months ending Sept. 5. The per-capita rate placed the neighborhood 12th highest for serious violent crime of more than 200 cities or neighborhoods included in The Times' new crime database.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez

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49 reader comments

I would love to know where James' gun came from...They should trace the gun's path back from where it came and if it's one of the 2000 that "walked" from the US government agencies, FBI/DEA/ATF, into Mexico ( http://www.latimes.com/la-na-atf-guns-20110928,0,2072495.story ), got "lost" and came back over the boarder to US, wouldn't that be interesting...? Will they be held accountable for getting yet another gun into the wrong hands?? All too familiar a story (so much for politicians fixing the problem). The problem with guns is that they're all to easy to use in the heat of the moment (passion and adrenaline pumping) and there is no going back after the person is dead, no matter who carries them. Gun rights come with responsibility! I know that's not going to change so time to go get my own gun to protect my self, but believe me, I will stop when the police tell me to (I wouldn't be running with a gun anyways, I'd be afraid it would go off)! As for police, they are drilled from day 1 that some bad guy will try to kill them and if they want to go home to see their family at the end of the day, it's shoot or be shoot. Can't blame them if they are a little paranoid. Many police officers are killed in the line of duty. And I know I wouldn't wait around to see if the guy carrying is going to shoot me first! It's all so very sad! My condolences to his family who loved him, regardless if his actions were right or not, he has paid the ultimate price and his family will suffer his loss forever.
Heather's mom
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-Heather/229099663811640

— Nancy, Heather's mom Oct. 6, 2011 at 11:54 a.m.

— Nancy, Heather's mom Oct. 6, 2011 at 11:52 a.m.

Dear Truth,

I work for a major TV station...if you have the video I am willing to view it and if it can be authenticated I am willing to take this story on. Post here and let me know if you have the video...also why as this independent news reporter sell this hot video? Why is he/she holding it back? This could bring major money to him/her are you sure what you saw what of this night and of this person? There is a lot of money at stake for the holder of this video so why the hold out? Most news casters go their whole careers waiting for a hot topic like this! This has the potential to take this reporter from independent to news at 5 so I have to question the authenticity of this video. But again if you have it and want to show me and I will take make this news.

— WS Sept. 28, 2011 at 12:53 a.m.

To hear sentiments such as "he got what he deserved" & "human garbage" make my stomach cringe! I love how people who are "better off" seem to relish in the stereotype of the Black Ghetto Thug. Yet, the same people who advocate for the tearing down of the low-income project housing so boistrously are noticably silent when the federal govt is trying to cut head start & Pell Grant funding! The projects were built to breed the exact environment these HUMAN BEINGS live in; one where drugs and crime will obliterate a race of people the larger society no longer has a use for. Where desperation and desolation are so rampant, that people don't even bother trying to do better. It's real easy to blame the victims, when you're not one. And this young man was a victim...another victim of America's Ghettos. My condolences to all who loved him.

— tjisajd May 11, 2011 at 3:10 p.m.

Watts Resident: I'm sorry if you're offended by the facts. HR: "Watts is among the most dangerous areas patrolled by the LAPD or Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, according to The Times' Crime L.A. database". It's also true that these public housing projects are a magnet for drug dealing, gangs, and violence. Keep an eye on this blog and you'll see continual references to these places. I think we should definitely tear them down and if/when we do, I don't propose to send the people currently living in them (sponging off the taxpayers, actually) anywhere. Let them procure housing however they will in the open market LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO. When did it become the responsibility of hardworking taxpayers to pay for your housing? I also acknowledge that not all youth there is up to no good...just most of them. And there are of course law abiding productive citizens to be found in any community, even Watts. It's just that they're very many of the bad folks living there too, as the statistics bear out.

— Citizenjohn Jan. 3, 2011 at 11:45 a.m.

To Citizenjohn, you obviously have no clue about what you are talking about. Pleople who live in Watts, namely in the housing projects of Jordan Downs and Imperial Courts are not savage beast. They are poor families who have nowhere else to live. So if you tear down those housing projects where are you planning to send these people? Especially in this economy. Your comment is made out of fear of the unkown. Also not all youth there is up to no good. I lived in Jordan Downs, graduated from David Starr Jordan HS and graduated from Cal State Northridge. Most of my classmates knew that an education will be a ticket to a better future. While I agree that there's gang problems there making general statements about an entire community is wrong.

— Watts Resident Dec. 28, 2010 at 2:33 p.m.

This is the saddast discussion I have ever read. I am from Imperial Courts and if they were to listen to you and genocide the entire area this world would be void of a lot of good people. We are not all gun toting gang bangers. I am a Special Education Teacher with a Master's Degree. I put myself through school (no tax payer money) I own 2 business in Arizona and 3 homes. None ill-gotten. My Cousin from there is a RN. Another cousin s manager. Another making 70k driving for LAUSD. The majority of my cousins from WATTS are doing well for themselves.
My famiy has 2 generation growing up in Watts. Out of the 50 I can count (maybe more) not one ever killed anyone.
You want to talk about being bias? What about all of you who took sides before you knew the full story. You all readily defend the police officer without knowing the facts. I wasn't there and I can't understand if James was hand cuffed while running or handcuffed after shot in the back. Either way it is wrong. I read two different reports. All I do know is that it is never ok for an officer to shoot in the back. Not one report states there was a gun shot from James or anyone else for that matter. It's all about the power.
There is a lot of violence all over America, not just WATTS. And slugger I am going to answer the question for you. Your family member was hanging out with some friends, the cops came up harrassing them, your famiy member says I don't deserve this and flees the scene. He shot IN THE BACK! Point blank!!! No questions asked.

— Tanysha seriousy outrage Dec. 28, 2010 at 6:46 a.m.

slugger, I also do know MOST cops don't wake up each day and ponder who to take out over a morning cup of coffee. I also know my belief system is based on facts. For example, it is a fact the ex officer bart killed an unarmed man. The man complied with the cop and he was still shot in the back. See link below:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/bart-officer-sentenced.html

In spite of this incident video taped, it sickens me to know the cop was only sentenced to two years. As indicated in the linked article, "policeman can shoot someone and go free. These guys have a license to kill” and I agree with this statement 100%. In most cop killings there's not even a trial. We are talking about a human life taken away and there's no room for mistakes. Lastly, since I already brought up the Bart incident, what would you do if a family member of yours was Grant, the person killed by the cop?

— Jag Nov. 5, 2010 at 3 p.m.

@ Jag

"Are you implying that people who question a cop's competency is a law enforcement reject?"

A: No. I question the competency os SOME law enforcement personnel myself. Even without a graduate degree I know that they do not wake up each day and ponder who to take out over a morning cup of coffee.

If "a lot of them are unjustified murderers" the criminals would be six feet under and not in jails, prisons or running rampid in our communities

Your comments are clearly biased against law enforcement and based on your "BELIEF" that "A LOT" of them are "UNJUSTIFIED MURDERERS."

A belief is not a truth, my friend.

Now please answer my question. In the senario where my family member was shot/killed by a cop, was the cop defending himself, protecting someone else or doing a drive by?

— slugger Nov. 4, 2010 at 1:37 p.m.

The Homicide Report

James Davis, 18

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