Thomas Levern Davenport was 47 years old when he died on Friday, December 10, 2010, in Pomona. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, he died of a stab wound at 2248 Carlton Ave. His death was ruled a homicide, and it is listed as a case of the Pomona Police Department.
The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report described him as "a 47-year-old black man" who "was stabbed to death Friday, Dec. 10, in the 2200 block of Carlton Avenue in Pomona." Authorities received a call about 10:25 p.m. "regarding a person yelling and carrying a screwdriver," said Pomona Police Lt. Raul Rilloraza. When officers arrived, they found Davenport on the ground. According to coroner's records, he had "a single stab wound to the left side of his neck." He was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:40 p.m.
The investigation took an unexpected turn. The Times reported that "detectives learned Davenport was the person wielding the screwdriver.
At some point, he got into an argument with an individual and he was stabbed." Rilloraza said investigators had identified the person involved in the incident, but he declined to provide any further information. "At this time, no charges have been filed in connection with Davenport's death," he said.
Those details raise questions the public record does not answer. They do not say who the other person was, whether that person knew Davenport, or what the argument was about. They do not say whether the person who stabbed him claimed to have acted in self-defense, and no later report says whether prosecutors reviewed the case or ruled on it. Because the person involved was identified but not charged, the death remains officially unresolved in public records.
Beyond his name, his age and the place where he died, almost nothing about Thomas Davenport has been made public. No obituary, memorial page or family fundraiser could be found for this story, and no news outlet other than the Times appears to have reported on the death. Thomas Davenport is also a common name, shared by many other men across the country, none of whom can be tied to this death. He surely had family or friends who remember who he was, but none of that has entered the public record.
Pomona is one of the largest cities in eastern Los Angeles County, near the San Bernardino County line. It is home to Cal Poly Pomona and to the Fairplex, where the Los Angeles County Fair has been held for decades. Its neighborhoods range from historic districts of older homes to apartment blocks and industrial areas along its freeways and rail lines.
Hundreds of people are killed in Los Angeles County every year, and a large share of those killings end without an arrest.
No arrest, criminal charge or court case connected to the death of Thomas Levern Davenport could be found in news archives or public records. More than 15 years later, there is no public sign that anyone has been held responsible. Anyone who heard the yelling on Carlton Avenue in Pomona on the night of December 10, 2010, or who saw the argument that followed, may hold information that could help. Even a small detail, such as a name overheard, a vehicle seen nearby or a conversation remembered, can help detectives move a case forward. At the time, the Times asked anyone with details to contact Detective A. Bebon or M. Lange at (909) 620-2095. Anyone with information can contact the Pomona Police Department, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
