Nizare Davis, a 22-year-old woman of African American ethnicity, tragically lost her life on April 16, 2017, in Philadelphia, PA. She was fatally shot by Craig Andrus on the 3200 Block of F Street at approximately 1:19 a.m. The incident occurred following an altercation between Davis and Andrus, which was reportedly sparked by a prior dispute involving Davis's girlfriend, Shamecca Franklin.
According to witness testimonies, Andrus had been involved in a confrontation at a nearby bar
earlier that night, where he allegedly put his hands around Franklin's neck. This incident was relayed to Davis, who confronted Andrus when she encountered him later on the 3200 Block of F Street. During their exchange, Davis was in possession of a 22-caliber revolver, but she did not fire her weapon. Andrus, however, fired three shots, two of which struck Davis, leading to her death.
Craig Andrus was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from owning one. He entered a guilty plea on June 4, 2018, and was sentenced to 11½ to 23 years’ imprisonment for the murder, along with an additional 6 to 23 months for parole violations. The court's decision took into account Andrus's prior conviction for possession with intent to deliver, which made him ineligible to possess a firearm.
The case, Commonwealth v. Andrus, was reviewed by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, which affirmed the sentence. The court noted that Andrus's justification defense, claiming that Davis threatened him with a gun, would require admitting that he illegally possessed a firearm. Ultimately, Andrus chose to accept the plea deal rather than face trial.
This tragic event highlights the devastating consequences of gun violence and the importance of addressing underlying disputes and conflicts to prevent such occurrences in the future.
