Man Sentenced to 5 Years After Pleading Guilty to Malicious Wounding, Being Felon in Possession of Firearm in 2023 Diggs Town Shooting

NORFOLK, Va.  — Darius Malik Davis, 28, was sentenced to serve five years in prison for malicious wounding and for being a felon in possession of a firearm after he shot a man last year during an argument in the Diggs Town neighborhood.

Mr. Davis and the victim were loosely acquainted because the victim was friends with Mr. Davis’ girlfriend. On the night of Sept. 8, the two men were arguing inside the girlfriend’s apartment in the 1700 block of Campostella Road. After the two men continued the argument outside, Mr. Davis drew a firearm, shot the victim (who was unarmed) once and fled. The bullet struck the victim through his hand and stomach, and he was able to call 911. Norfolk Police responded to the apartment building, and medics transported the victim to a hospital for treatment. The girlfriend did not cooperate with police, and the victim helped investigators identify Mr. Davis — whose full name the victim did not initially know — as the suspect.

Norfolk Police arrested Mr. Davis at his workplace the following month. Mr. Davis’ employer later found a handgun in Mr. Davis’ bag, which he had left behind during his arrest, and notified police of the firearm. Mr. Davis is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Mr. Davis agreed on Sept. 16 to plead guilty to malicious wounding and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss additional charges against Mr. Davis from the same incident. There was no agreement to Mr. Davis’ sentence. Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted Mr. Davis’ plea agreement and found him guilty.

On Friday, Judge LeCruise heard arguments from the prosecutor and the defense, sentenced Mr. Davis to serve five years in prison, and suspended another 10 years on the conditions that Mr. Davis comply with probation and be of uniform good behavior for an indeterminate period following his release. Mr. Davis’ active sentence was above the midpoint and below the high end of his state sentencing guidelines.

“Mr. Davis shot the victim in cold blood, and for everyone’s sake we are fortunate that the victim lived,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “For justice and the protection of the community, we will continue to hold accountable people who engage in gun violence.” 

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony J. Balady prosecuted Mr. Davis’ case, and Norfolk Police Detective Alexander R. Kay led the investigation.

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Sept. 17, 2024

Man Pleads Guilty to Malicious Wounding, Being Felon in Possession of Firearm in 2023 Diggs Town Shooting

NORFOLK, Va.  — Darius Malik Davis, 28, pleaded guilty on Monday to malicious wounding and being a felon in possession of a firearm after he shot a man last year during an argument in the Diggs Town neighborhood.

Mr. Davis and the victim were loosely acquainted because the victim was friends with Mr. Davis’ girlfriend. On the night of Sept. 8, the two men were arguing inside the girlfriend’s apartment in the 1700 block of Campostella Road. After the two men continued the argument outside, Mr. Davis drew a firearm, shot the victim (who was unarmed) once and fled. The bullet struck the victim through his hand and stomach, and he was able to call 911. Norfolk Police responded to the apartment building, and medics transported the victim to a hospital for treatment. The girlfriend did not cooperate with police, and the victim helped investigators identify Mr. Davis — whose full name the victim did not initially know — as the suspect.

Norfolk Police arrested Mr. Davis at his workplace the following month. Mr. Davis’ employer later found a handgun in Mr. Davis’ bag, which he had left behind during his arrest, and notified police of the firearm. Mr. Davis is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Mr. Davis agreed on Monday to plead guilty to malicious wounding and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss additional charges against Mr. Davis from the same incident. There is no agreement to Mr. Davis’ sentence. Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted Mr. Davis’ plea agreement, found him guilty of the two charges, and set his sentencing hearing on Nov. 8.

“Nobody gets to settle an argument with gunfire,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Whatever Mr. Davis’ disagreement with the victim, he had no right to shoot him, and he is lucky that he did not kill him. We will continue to hold Mr. Davis accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence in November.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony J. Balady is prosecuting Mr. Davis’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Alexander R. Kay led the investigation.

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