On the evening of February 8, 2026, tragedy struck in Natchez, Mississippi, when 29-year-old Deja Anthonyisha Davis was killed in a fatal drive-by shooting. The incident occurred in the Maryland Heights subdivision, where Davis was sitting in a car with a male companion, Curtavius Knight. The hail of bullets claimed Davis's life and left Knight seriously wounded.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and within days, the Natchez Police Department had a suspect in custody. Daylon Pernell, a 17-year-old, was arrested in connection with the deadly assault. The charges brought against him were severe, reflecting the violent nature of the crime. Pernell faces charges of second-degree murder for the death of Deja Davis, as well as attempted second-degree murder for the injuries sustained by Curtavius Knight. Additionally, he is charged with shooting into a vehicle and discharging a firearm within the city limits.
As the legal process began to unfold, the community mourned the loss of a young woman taken too soon. An obituary for Deja Davis confirmed the sorrowful details of her passing, leaving family and friends to grapple with the sudden and violent end to her life. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with information to come forward as they continue to seek justice for Deja Davis.
