Eugene Justin Davis, a 22-year-old male from Akron, OH, tragically died on November 22, 2020, after being shot in the back while lying in a front yard in the 600 block of Payne Avenue in Highland Square. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., and Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooter fled the scene before police arrived, and no suspects were immediately identified.
Following the incident, Darrie Moore, a 30-year-old resident of Akron, was arrested and charged with murder
in connection with Davis's death. Moore's address was listed as the same location where Davis was shot, and during the investigation, police found a 9 mm pistol, an empty .45-caliber magazine, and various drugs and paraphernalia in Moore's residence. Moore was already in custody on several felony drug charges, a weapons charge, and an escape charge at the time of his arrest.
In a plea deal, Moore pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, with a firearm specification that carries a one-year mandatory prison term. He also pleaded guilty to two drug charges, tampering with evidence, and having weapons under disability. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison Breaux sentenced Moore to eight to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter charge, with additional one-year terms for the firearm and tampering charges to run consecutively.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in Akron, which saw 47 homicides investigated by police in 2020, including Davis's death. The community continues to grapple with the impact of such incidents and the need for effective measures to prevent future tragedies.
