Khira Bernetta Denise Ruth McKinley, a 23-year-old African American woman, was tragically found dead in her car on July 4, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the 7200 block of Oakwinds Court, where police responded to a call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon at approximately 8:42 a.m. Upon arrival, authorities discovered Khira inside her vehicle, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Khira had sustained injuries from a gunshot wound, leading the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to treat her death as a homicide.
The neighborhood where the incident took place was typically quiet, making the event even more shocking for residents. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots early in the morning, initially mistaking them for fireworks due to the Independence Day celebrations. The tragic event marked Charlotte's 60th homicide investigation of the year, surpassing the total number of murders in the city for the entire previous year.
Following the discovery of Khira's body, the investigation quickly led to the arrest of Jerome Davis Jr., who was taken into custody in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on August 5, 2019. Davis was charged with murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury. The case took several years to reach a conclusion, with Davis remaining in jail awaiting trial. In July 2023, Jerome Davis pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Khira McKinley. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Davis received a 10-year prison sentence, with credit for the four years he had already served, resulting in a remaining six-year prison term.
Khira's death left a lasting impact on her community, with residents expressing their shock and sadness over the loss of a young life. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the importance of continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members.
