A St. Louis man admitted his guilt on Monday in the killing of a teenager from the city in 2022.
Louzell Davis Jr. made a plea deal with prosecutors, resulting in his guilty plea for second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Initially charged with first-degree murder, Davis agreed to the lesser charge. As a result, he received a sentence of 17 years for the murder charge and three years for armed criminal action. These sentences will be served consecutively, leading to a total of 20 years in prison.
“The act of taking the life of this young boy will not serve as a means to bring back Davis’s son,” remarked Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “Instead, it only continues the cycle of violence and inflicts pain upon yet another family. Ensuring that this defendant faces consequences for their actions is the minimum we can do.”
The Ashford family continues to mourn the tragic loss of their beloved 14-year-old, Jacob Ashford, and they have concerns that Davis will not face appropriate consequences for his actions. Back in December 2022, Ashford was tragically shot and killed in north St. Louis City. Shortly thereafter, Davis was formally charged by the police with first-degree murder.
Trena Hicks fondly remembers Jacob as a beloved and well-behaved child.
Hicks fondly reflected on the things she adored about her son.
Hicks fondly remembers, “He was always dancing.”
A tragic incident occurred on Greer Avenue in the Kingsway East neighborhood, where Ashford lost his life after being shot. Hicks, the grieving mother, revealed that she personally knows the individual who has been charged with her son’s murder.
“Hicks reflected on the close bond her son shared with his childhood friends, saying, “His children grew up with my son. They all grew up together from little babies.”
Hicks grew increasingly concerned upon discovering the scheduled plea hearing set for Monday morning. Her fervent hope was that Davis would be sentenced to life in prison as a consequence.
Hicks expressed his strong opinion, stating that the individual in question should not be granted a plea deal or any form of leniency.
The concern was regarding a potential plea agreement that could result in Davis being released in the future.
Hicks expressed her opinion, stating, “I don’t believe he should never come home.”
After the loss of her son, she mentioned that her life has undergone a significant transformation. She now approaches people with a bit more caution, having learned from her experience with Davis.
Hicks emphasized the importance of delving into the essence of individuals in order to truly comprehend the kind of individuals one is interacting with.
Jacob was the seventh and final child of Hicks. Now, more than a year after she laid him to rest, she is determined to seek justice for her precious baby boy.
“I raised some amazing kids, and I can proudly say that I did a great job,” expressed Hicks, his voice tinged with sadness. “But having one of them taken away from me, especially knowing that they did everything right, it’s an indescribable feeling of heartbreak.”
