District Attorney Krasner Announces Charges Following Unintentional Shooting Death of 9-Year-Old

CONTACT:
Jane Roh, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 21, 2021) — District Attorney Larry Krasner on Thursday announced Involuntary Manslaughter and related charges have been filed against Blake Davis (DOB: 7/15/1981), for his role in the unintentional fatal shooting of his 9-year-old daughter by another child.

Philadelphia Police on Wednesday morning responded to the 2300 block of North Bouvier Street, where the 9-year-old child was found shot. She was pronounced deceased that afternoon.

At time of the shooting, the girl’s brother and cousin, both minors, were inside the residence with no adult supervision.

For his role in the fatal shooting of his child, Davis is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter (M1), 1 count of Endangering the Welfare of Children (F1) and 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of Children (F2), 2 counts of Corruption of Minors (M1), Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2), and illegal firearms violations (VUFA 6105, 6106, 6108).

“I offer my deepest condolences to the Davis family for the terrible loss of a beloved child. This tragedy was 100% preventable. Kids should not be allowed unsupervised access to firearms, period. We can hold both that a father has suffered a horrific tragedy, and that he is also criminally responsible for this loss,” District Attorney Krasner said. “As a community, we must also come together to ensure that the two other children found in this residence are able to heal and grow beyond the trauma inflicted on them.”

District Attorney Krasner added: “Being prohibited from legal purchase of firearms, as Davis was, means little when illegal guns are so cheap and plentiful. That is on a Pennsylvania General Assembly and U.S. Congress that has failed to act despite the loss of so many children to gun violence. I am hopeful we will see bold new gun regulations under the Biden Administration that finally rein in the corrupt and bloodthirsty NRA.”

Philadelphia County requires by law the safe storage of firearms in households where minors also reside. Free gun locks are available — no questions asked — by submitting a request to Temple Safety Net.

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually.