On the morning of December 13, 2019, tragedy struck on the westbound lanes of Interstate 270 in Hazelwood, Missouri, claiming the life of 20-year-old Marvin Lindoren Davis. At approximately 11:15 a.m., Davis was driving a Nissan Maxima sedan near the Lindbergh Boulevard exit when he became the target of a violent attack. According to investigators, a black SUV with tinted windows began following his vehicle.
As the vehicles traveled along the highway, occupants of the SUV opened fire, discharging at least 10 rounds from multiple weapons into Davis’s sedan.
Struck by the gunfire, Davis lost control of his vehicle, which subsequently collided with a tractor-trailer before coming to a stop. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find Davis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident forced the closure of the interstate for several hours as the Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad launched a homicide investigation to track down the assailants who had sped away in the black SUV.
In the weeks and months following the shooting, detectives identified and apprehended multiple suspects in connection with the murder. Authorities alleged that the attack was targeted, although a specific motive was not immediately detailed in public reports. Police arrested Courtland I. Kent, then 19, and Darrius A. Jones, then 17, charging both with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. They were held on significant bonds as the case progressed through the legal system.
Later in the investigation, a third suspect was linked to the crime. In March 2021, police arrested Isaiah Keys after responding to an unrelated disturbance call. Keys, who had initially used an alias, was identified by authorities and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon for his alleged role in Davis's death. Investigators revealed that the suspects had utilized at least two different firearms during the highway ambush.
