In the quiet town of Newberry, South Carolina, a domestic dispute escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of a young boy. Seven-year-old Iven Penny Caldwell, a male student at Gallman Elementary School, was fatally wounded in a shooting that erupted in the early morning hours of a Saturday in April 2019. The incident unfolded at a residence on Cherry Lane, forever altering the lives of those involved.
The events of that night began when X'Zavier Sharif Davis, 26 years old at the
time, arrived at the home he shared with his girlfriend and her three children. Finding himself locked out, Davis eventually gained entry and a heated argument ensued. In an attempt to flee the escalating conflict, the mother gathered her three children, including Iven, and hurried to her car. As she tried to drive away, Davis opened fire on the vehicle, striking both her and her son.
Wounded, the mother drove towards the Newberry County Memorial Hospital. It was on this desperate journey that she discovered her son had also been shot. Due to the severity of his injuries, Iven was later transferred to a hospital in Columbia. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his wounds two days later. His mother was treated for a gunshot wound to her leg and survived. The other two children in the car, who were reportedly Davis's biological children, were unharmed.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement was dispatched to the hospital. Upon learning the details of the incident, deputies proceeded to the home on Cherry Lane where they found Davis still present. After a brief standoff, they successfully negotiated his surrender and took him into custody. The initial charges of assault and battery with intent to kill were upgraded to murder following Iven's death. Ultimately, X'Zavier Davis was convicted for his role in the death of Iven Penny Caldwell and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
