John E. Davis, a 73-year-old Black man, was shot and later died of his injuries following a late-night attack on August 22, 2024, in Meridian, Mississippi. The shooting happened about 12:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of 37th Avenue; his 66-year-old wife, Emma J. Davis, was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. John Davis was airlifted to a Jackson hospital where he later succumbed to his wounds. The Lauderdale County Coroner identified his death as the result of a violent act.

Meridian Police Chief Deborah Naylor-Young linked the killing to ongoing gang violence in the city and said investigators were seeking tips from the public. The investigation had identified a suspect and police asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Does anyone have information about the night of August 22, 2024, or about the people who lived in that 1600 block of 37th Avenue?