On October 13, 2015, the life of 45-year-old male Ehrman Davis IV came to a violent end in Berkeley, Missouri, a suburb within St. Louis County. Known to friends and family as 'Lonny' or 'Big E,' Davis was found lying lifeless in the middle of the street, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The discovery marked the beginning of a homicide investigation by local authorities who worked to piece together the events leading up to the shooting in the quiet residential area where Davis resided.
Months went by before investigators secured a significant break in the case. In July 2016, prosecutors formally charged 21-year-old Joseph Cooper with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Davis's death. According to court documents, Cooper, who also lived in Berkeley, provided a confession to detectives. He admitted to shooting Davis with a shotgun during the encounter the previous October. Following the charges, Cooper was held on a $500,000 bond.
Davis was remembered by his community as an entrepreneur and a dedicated father who had attended McCluer High School. His sudden death left a void for his surviving family members, including his children. The resolution of the case brought some answers to the lingering questions surrounding the circumstances of that autumn day, confirming that the violence which claimed his life was an act committed by a neighbor within their own community.
