In the autumn of 2021, a violent altercation in Starkville, Mississippi, tragically cut short the life of 28-year-old Tihyree Kharon Davis. The incident, which unfolded on October 20, 2021, on Kirk Cauldy Drive, resulted in Davis being fatally shot, while another individual sustained injuries.
Authorities investigating the homicide soon identified two suspects. Portia Manning, then 32, was arrested and faced charges of capital murder, aggravated assault, and carjacking. Investigators stated that after shooting Davis, Manning fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. A second individual, 22-year-old Exzuctica Brownlee, was also taken into custody and charged with being an accessory to all of Manning's alleged crimes for aiding her after the fact.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of closure to the community. Portia Manning was ultimately sentenced for her role in Tihyree Davis's death. The 6th Circuit District Attorney's Office reported that Manning entered a guilty plea and received a 40-year prison sentence, with five of those years suspended, leaving 35 years to be served. Both Manning and Brownlee were held at the Oktibbeha County Jail following their arrests.
