"It's not human": Family of Alan Davis, slain 14-year-old, speaks out against youth violence
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis family is demanding answers, and action, after someone shot a 14-year-old boy and left him in an alley to die.
Flowers mark the spot in north Minneapolis where Alan Davis was found on Monday night.
The tragedy of losing a child is painful enough for his family, but what makes it even more devastating is they think they know who killed Alan: boys from his school.
His mother, Frances Davis, says he was perfect. A child who believed in unity and peace.
"A lot of the young kids out here, they don't have love, may not be able to communicate it between each other or with their parents. My son was able to teach them how to communicate and share their love between each other," Frances said.
A neighbor found Alan shot in an alleyway Monday night in the city's McKinley neighborhood. His family visited Wednesday to tend to his memorial. The emotion of this loss was initially too much for Alan's sister, Alicia, to even speak.
"I don't want to see no other sibling or family hurt like my daughter's hurting right now. Alan meant everything to Alicia. They were like twins," Frances said.
Alan's family says they pulled him out of school this year because he was having trouble in eighth grade with other kids. They say they called Alan a snitch and threatened his life. They believe those bullies were involved with the shooting.
"I ate with him. I laid down, I went to sleep. That's the last time I seen my brother," said his sister, Alicia Davis.
"If I could take his place, if I could ask God to take me instead of Alan, because Alan never did nothing wrong," said his grandfather, Frank Davis.
Community leaders joined with Alan's family, calling for violence among children to stop.
"It will take all of us. Let it start right now," said DonEsther Anderson of A Mother's Love.
"Killing and taking someone's life, that is not human," said his great aunt Erie Brown.
"My son was supposed to bury me, not me burying him," Frances said.
No arrests have been made, which the family hopes will change soon.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the city has a serious problem with juvenile crime and repeat offenders. He urged anyone with information about Davis' killing to submit an anonymous tip online to Crime Stoppers, or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).