“The danger our community has endured for the past 24 hours is over.”
A student from Central Michigan University was arrested on Saturday after shooting his parents on campus after a day-long manhunt.
The suspect, James Eric Davis Jr., 19, was found around 12:15 a.m. along the train tracks by a bystander on a train passing through the north end of campus in Mount Pleasant and called authorities. Davis was arrested a short time after.
“The danger our community has endured for the past 24 hours is over,” said Bill Yeagley of the Central Michigan University police department during a press conference on Saturday.
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The shooting occurred on Friday at Campbell Hall a little before 9 a.m. during the time parents were picking up students for spring break. The victims, Dina Davis and James Davis Sr. were shot in their son’s dorm room before he took off.
Here’s what we know about the shooting so far:
Davis thought he was being threatened by another person: Authorities said during a press conference that on Thursday, March 1, Davis approached campus police and said someone was trying to hurt him. Davis claimed this person had a gun but was very vague on why he wanted to harm him, according to police.
Davis then told officers the man who wanted to hurt him had a “warrant for his arrest” because he had previously committed a murder. Police told reporters they found the individual, who had no registered weapon and did not pose a threat to him.
“Everything was very vague, but we did get a name of someone who might be involved in threatening Mr. Davis,” said Yeagley. “We located the individual and interviewed him. This man did not pose a threat to Davis or any other individual.”
Campus police approached the teen again on Friday, March 2 around 1 a.m. to find that he had multiple bags outside of his dorm room. When they questioned Davis Jr., campus authorities said he was not making any sense. His parents were immediately called, and Davis Jr. was taken to a local hospital. Authorities said this could be due to a possible drug-related incident, but did not release any further details.
Davis is currently in the hospital being treated for hypothermia: After apprehending the suspect, Davis Jr. was taken to a local hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
“He was clearly cold and life was not making sense to him at that moment,” said Yeagley.
Yeagley said there were no immediate questions asked, but he will be transferred to Isabella County Jail once he is released from the hospital.
The gun was registered under his father’s name: Yeagley told reporters during the press conference that the gun Davis Jr. used to shoot his parents was registered to his father. Davis Sr. was a part-time police officer in Chicago.
“The shooting at Central Michigan University today strikes close to home. A sad day in Bellwood and across the 7th District. My sincerest condolences go out to the family of Bellwood Police Officer James Davis Sr. and his wife who were shot and killed this morning. May they RIP,” tweeted Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch.
Authorities said there are videos and photos of Davis Jr. carrying his father’s gun from the parking lot into the residence hall.
