Man sentenced to 25 years for murder
A Chattanooga man who shot someone and continued to empty his clip into the man’s back after he fell to the ground was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison.
Daques De’l Davis, 26, pleaded guilty to the seconddegree murder of Kendale Storey as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
“I really hate that you put yourself in this position because I lost my son, and your family lost theirs, too,” said Storey’s mother, who chose not to identify herself while on the stand. “If it was up to me, you would never see the light of day.”
She expressed disappointment with the plea deal. The sentence is too short compared to the permanent loss of her son, she said.
Prosecutors outlined the facts of the case to Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Amanda Dunn.
On May 19, 2022, Davis and his girlfriend drove to the duck pond at East Lake Park. They also took Davis’ dog, named Assassin.
Davis locked his keys in his car at some point, prosecutors said. He and his girlfriend were unable to get back into the vehicle.
When they returned home, Davis was extremely angry, his girlfriend said, according to prosecutors. He left the residence either in anger or to get his car, with a Taurus 9mm in his waistband.
Early the next morning, Davis was caught on video surveillance leaving a homicide scene near East Lake Elementary School, prosecutors said. There was no facial recognition, but investigators were able to identify that Davis was wearing the outfit in which he left his home the day before.
A Taurus 9mm was left in a nearby trash can, which was later confirmed to have Davis’ DNA, prosecutors said.
Storey was shot standing up. The surveillance footage shows Davis continued to shoot Storey in the back after he fell to the ground.
No information was provided about Davis’ motive.
Davis was indicted on a first-degree murder charge, but prosecutors said his girlfriend’s statements about his
mood may have negated that Davis premeditated the murder. Dunn acknowledged the outcome may have not been what Storey’s family was hoping for.
“His life will continue to have meaning because you love him,” the judge said to his family.
Davis also pleaded guilty Thursday to reckless aggravated assault for an incident that happened while he was in custody at Hamilton County Jail.
In February 2023,
Davis made a shank and attempted to stab an inmate, prosecutors said. A Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputy broke up the altercation and was stabbed in the forehead as a result.