To many drivers in Durham, North Carolina, William Davis was a familiar and inspiring local figure. The 39-year-old man, who had an amputated leg, was affectionately known as "Hood Hop." He could be found almost every day at the intersection of Roxboro and Morehead streets, standing on one leg with his crutches and holding a sign asking for donations. Though he was experiencing homelessness, William was known for his resilience. One person who knew him from a local ministry said, "He made me inspired because there were days when I wanted to sit down, but he was standing up." Another community member noted that while some may overlook people on the street, "they are somebody. That's somebody's son out there."
On Saturday, April 12, 2008, William was found dead. He had been stabbed to death, and his body was left in the street near the intersection of West Piedmont Avenue and Scout Drive. The news of his murder saddened the community that had grown used to seeing him.
In the days that followed, a makeshift memorial appeared at his regular corner, where people left money inside a shoe in his memory. A funeral was held for him in the nearby town of Kittrell the following Friday.
While he spent his days on the street, William was actively working to improve his life. He was a frequent visitor to Urban Ministries, where he was attending Bible study and taking drug abuse classes. A worker there, Travis Sellers, said William was a "handicapped man that didn't let life beat him down." He recalled how William was trying to get his life on the right track, and it seemed to be working.
The Durham Police Department began a homicide investigation. On April 30, 2008, investigators asked for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in the case, but no arrests were ever announced. As of that month, William's murder remains unsolved. Authorities have asked that anyone with information about the homicide call CrimeStoppers at 683-1200. Callers can remain anonymous, and CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest in felony cases.
