Davion Davon Martin was 25 years old when he was fatally stabbed on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, in Inglewood. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, he died of stab wounds in the 4000 block of West Century Boulevard. His death was ruled a homicide, and it is listed as an Inglewood Police Department case.
The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report gave a short account of what happened. "At about 10:50 p.m., officers from the Inglewood Police Department responded to a call of a fight in the area," it said. "When police arrived, Martin was on the ground. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:27 p.m." The report said that "police said the motive was unknown."
His mother, Sharon Martin-Louis, did not let his death go quietly. She started an online petition on Change.org under the title "I want the guys involved in my son's murder to be arrested."
In it she wrote that her son "was murder on 01/29/2020" and that he had walked to the store before he was attacked. She wrote that he was stabbed at a gas station and said he was stabbed four times. "So can you please sign my petition so I can get justice," she wrote. The petition drew more than 790 verified signatures. Her account suggests that she believes more than one person was involved and that she knows who they are, but the petition is her own account, and no one appears to have been charged.
The rest of his life is largely missing from the public record. No obituary or memorial fundraiser for him could be found, and no news outlet appears to have followed up on the case. Davion Martin is a fairly common name, and other men who share it, including a musician and a community organizer in Watts, have no connection to his death.
Inglewood is a city of about 100,000 people southwest of downtown Los Angeles, just east of Los Angeles International Airport. It is known for the Forum arena, and at the time of his death the giant SoFi Stadium was under construction in the city, part of a wave of development that was changing its skyline. Century Boulevard is one of the main roads leading toward the airport, lined with businesses, gas stations and apartment buildings. Inglewood has its own police department, which investigates homicides in the city.
Hundreds of people are killed in Los Angeles County every year, and a large share of those killings end without an arrest.
No arrest, criminal charge or court case connected to the death of Davion Davon Martin could be found in news archives or public records. More than five years later, there is no public sign that anyone has been held responsible. Anyone who was on or near the 4000 block of West Century Boulevard on the night of January 29, 2020, or who saw the fight that police were called to, may hold information that could help. Even a small detail, such as a name overheard, a vehicle seen nearby or a conversation remembered, can help detectives move a case forward. Anyone with information can call the Inglewood Police Department at 412-5240, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
