James E. Davis

For other person named James Davis please see James Davis

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James E. Davis (April 3, 1962 ? July 23, 2003) was a New York City policeman, corrections officer and councilmember. He was killed by a fellow politician in New York's City Hall, in a bizarre instance of political rivalry gone awry.

Related Topics:
April 3 - 1962 - July 23 - 2003 - New York City - Policeman - City Hall

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Davis was born and raised in Brooklyn, the son of a corrections officer and a registered nurse. He spent his early childhood in Bedford-Stuyvesant before his family moved to Crown Heights.

Related Topics:
Brooklyn - Registered nurse - Bedford-Stuyvesant - Crown Heights

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He earned a bachelor's degree at Pace University in social science and youth agency administration. He became a corrections officer at Rikers Island after being beaten by two white police officers, and became a policeman himself in 1983.

Related Topics:
Pace University - Social science - Rikers Island - 1983

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In 1991, Davis started an organization called Love Yourself Stop the Violence dedicated to stopping violence in urban America. He became a minister, and then a New York City Councilmember for Brooklyn's 35th Council district, elected in November 2001.

Related Topics:
1991 - Minister - New York City Councilmember - 2001

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Othniel Askew had raised funds to run against him in the next election, but had failed to file the proper papers on time, which led to accusations of political chicanery.

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On July 23, 2003, Davis brought Askew to attend a Council meeting at New York City's City Hall, with the intention of honoring him by introducing him from the balcony. The councilman and his guest were able to bypass the metal detectors. At 2:08 p.m., Askew fired a silver .40 caliber weapon at Davis, striking him twice in the chest. Davis, as a retired police officer, was carrying a weapon but it remained holstered. A plain-clothes policeman then shot Askew, striking him five times. Paramedics arrived quickly, and attempted to revive both Davis and Askew before taking them to NYU Downtown Hospital, but both died.

Related Topics:
July 23 - 2003 - Metal detector - .40 caliber - NYU Downtown Hospital

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Davis's brother Geoffrey announced that he would run for the seat formerly held by his brother. He was defeated by fellow Democrat Letitia James, running on the Working Families Party line.

Related Topics:
Geoffrey - Democrat - Letitia James - Working Families Party

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