Tavares Davis

Tavares Davis, a 41-year-old Black man known affectionately as the "Funnel Cake Man," was a beloved entrepreneur who turned a simple dessert into a thriving family business. A risk-taker with a warm personality, Tavares overcame a difficult childhood to become a devoted husband and father of three. He and his wife, NaKesha, were a team in life and business, building The Funnel Cake Man from a stand at a parade into two successful locations at the Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and the Southlake Mall in Merrillville, Indiana. Tavares, who had studied to be a chef, was the visionary, inspired by long lines at an amusement park to make the fairground treat available year-round. His family remembers him as the fun-loving, adventurous backbone of their lives, a man who taught them to live fully.

The vibrant life Tavares built was tragically cut short on the afternoon of August 2, 2022. He had left his South Holland home around 11:30 a.m. to buy cigarettes. In a brazen daylight crime in the neighboring village of Dolton, Illinois, Tavares was shot and then pushed out of a moving vehicle near the corner of 155th Street and Drexel Avenue. He had been robbed of all his valuables, including his wallet, jewelry, and car keys. His death was a profound shock to his family and the communities he served with his popular desserts.

The Dolton Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Surveillance footage became a key piece of evidence, showing Tavares getting into a white Mercedes-Benz SUV with several other individuals just before his death. Based on the video, police identified 27-year-old Xavier Harding as a person of interest. Investigators also sought a second man who was seen fleeing the area in a white Chevrolet Malibu with Michigan dealer plates. Police noted that the Malibu had two distinct defects on its hood and was linked to another felony.

In late August 2022, acting on a tip, Dolton police located and arrested Xavier Harding on an outstanding warrant from a different agency. He was questioned extensively about his connection to the murder of Tavares Davis. However, as of that time, no charges were filed against him in relation to the homicide, and police stated his role remained under investigation. There have been no public updates on the status of the second person of interest who fled in the Chevy Malibu.

In the months following the killing, the Davis family, alongside community activists, held balloon releases and made public pleas for justice. They initially offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, which was later increased to $5,000 with a contribution from Dolton's mayor. "The truth needs to be revealed," his wife NaKesha said. "We deserve that... My children deserve the truth. The community deserves to know the truth about what happened to my husband." She has vowed to keep the business going, determined to continue the legacy her husband started.

One year after his death, NaKesha and her children honored Tavares's memory by embracing his adventurous spirit, a family motto being "No Davis left behind." They temporarily closed the funnel cake shops to grieve and process their deep loss. As of February 2023, Cook County Crime Stoppers was still actively seeking tips from the public. The investigation into the murder of Tavares Davis remains open. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Dolton Police Department at 708-841-2533. A $5,000 reward is still being offered for information that leads to an arrest.