Persayus Chanell Davis-May, a 10-year-old girl from Youngstown, OH, tragically lost her life on August 18, 2021. She was born on June 28, 2011, to Christina Chanell May and Tony Eugene Davis. Persayus was a loving, caring, outgoing, and family-oriented child who attended Wilson Elementary School. She had a passion for dolls, TikTok, YouTube, and cooking with her mother.
Persayus was deeply loved by her large family, including her parents, nine brothers, three sisters, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
On the night of her death, Persayus was killed in her home on Samuel Avenue during a shooting that also wounded three other people. The incident was part of a double homicide that occurred within a span of 24 hours, with another victim, Michael Callahan, 40, killed several blocks away. The Youngstown Police Department has been investigating the case but has released very little information about the suspects or the circumstances linking the two deaths.
Despite the ongoing investigation, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved. The community has come together to honor Persayus's memory, with the city renaming the street where she lived to "Persayus Way" and organizing events to promote peace and reduce gun violence. The Persayus May Project, an organization founded to support her family and other families affected by gun violence, continues to work towards these goals.
The loss of Persayus has deeply affected her family and the community, and they continue to seek justice for her and other victims of gun violence. The Youngstown Police Department has urged anyone with information to come forward, but the case remains open and unresolved.
