In the early morning hours of July 19, 2026, the life of 24-year-old Marques Aubrey Levar Davis Jr. was tragically cut short in a mass shooting in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The incident, which also claimed the life of his best friend, 21-year-old Lamarius Jones, and injured seven others, sent shockwaves through the community. Davis, a graduate of Asheville High School, was known for his infectious humor and his dedication to his family and community. He worked as a security officer and a part-time funeral assistant, and was an active mentor for the youth program "My Daddy Taught Me That."
The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. near Biltmore Avenue and is believed by law enforcement to have been a targeted act of retaliation for a previous shooting on July 5 at the Maple Crest Apartments. Family members and court records indicate that neither Davis nor Jones had a history of serious criminal activity. In the days following the tragic event, friends, family, and community members gathered to honor the memories of the two young men, holding a pep rally and a balloon release. Those who knew Davis remembered him as a compassionate and kind-hearted individual who was always willing to help others.
As of early August 2026, the Asheville Police Department had made significant progress in the investigation into the July 19 shooting, having seized a vehicle believed to be involved and identified several suspects. However, no arrests had been made directly in connection with the deaths of Marques Davis and Lamarius Jones. In a related development, police arrested 19-year-old Marqua Amryie Lamar Davis, the brother of Marques Davis, in connection with the earlier July 5 shooting at Maple Crest Apartments. He faces multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. The investigation into the interconnected violence that claimed two young lives and injured many others continues, leaving a community to grapple with the devastating consequences of retaliatory gun violence.
