On the morning of December 15, 2018, a residence on Cherry Avenue in Hillsdale, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, became the scene of a violent tragedy that shattered the peace of the holiday season. Inside the home, a family had gathered, including six young children ranging in age from seven months to seven years old. Among the adults present was 25-year-old Dontay Davis, an African American male who was a father to the children in the house.
Also present was his sister-in-law, 21-year-old Ahmira McDaniel, a college student who had recently returned home with honors from Lane College in Tennessee to celebrate the holidays with her loved ones.
The quiet of the early morning was broken when an intruder forcibly entered the home. The assailant, later identified by law enforcement as 26-year-old Marvin Butler-Dickerson, breached the safety of the residence and opened fire on the occupants. In the ensuing violence, both Davis and McDaniel were struck by gunfire. The attack occurred in the presence of the young children and other family members, creating a chaotic and terrifying scene. Emergency responders arrived to find a scene of devastation, but despite their efforts, the lives of Davis and McDaniel could not be saved.
The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons immediately launched a homicide investigation into the double shooting. Detectives worked quickly to piece together the events, aided by evidence at the scene and witness accounts. The investigation pointed toward a personal dispute as the motivating factor behind the deadly home invasion. Within days of the incident, police identified Butler-Dickerson as the primary suspect. He was taken into custody, where authorities say he provided a confession to the shootings, detailing his actions during the fateful morning.
Following his arrest and confession, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued a slew of serious charges against Butler-Dickerson. He faced two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Davis and McDaniel, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of first-degree burglary. The suspect was held without bond as the legal process began, leaving the grieving family to mourn the loss of a father and a promising young student just days before Christmas. The community and family rallied to support the surviving children, who were left without their father in the wake of the senseless violence.
