Jerry Davis

Jerry Davis Jr. was a 19-year-old African-American man looking forward to a bright future that included the birth of his first child. His life, however, was violently cut short on November 2, 2013, when he was shot and killed near the intersection of 50th Street and Hampton Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For years, his case grew cold, leaving his family, especially his mother, Gena Clark-McNite, with the profound pain of loss compounded by the lack of justice.

Refusing to let her son's case be forgotten, Clark-McNite launched a relentless campaign to find his killer. In an extraordinary effort to generate leads, she used her own money to rent fifteen billboards across Milwaukee, pleading with the public for any information that might help investigators. Her unwavering determination was a testament to a mother's love and her refusal to give up hope that the person responsible for Jerry's death would be held accountable.

The breakthrough came nearly five years after the murder. In the fall of 2018, an informant came forward and provided Milwaukee police with the crucial tip they needed. The information led them to a suspect who was shockingly close to Jerry's family: Demetrius Pugh. Pugh was Clark-McNite's ex-boyfriend and had known Jerry since he was just seven years old. He had been a frequent guest in their home, had shared meals at their table, and, in a chilling act of deceit, had even attended Jerry's funeral, mourning alongside the very family he had devastated.

Following his arrest, Pugh was charged with Jerry's murder. During the trial, prosecutors presented a case arguing that the motive for the killing was jealousy. The court heard testimony about Pugh's connection to the family and the events that led to the fatal shooting. In June 2019, after a six-day trial, a jury found the 40-year-old Pugh guilty of one count of first-degree reckless homicide, as party to a crime, with the use of a dangerous weapon, and one count of armed robbery, as party to a crime.

On August 23, 2019, Demetrius Pugh appeared in a Milwaukee County courtroom for his sentencing. The hearing was emotional for both families. Clark-McNite addressed the court, sharing the enduring pain of losing her only son. "The murder of my son was deliberate, sadistic and premeditated," she said. "I will never hear Jerry say happy birthday mom." She spoke of the impact on Jerry's daughter, who was born after his death and would never know her father. Pugh maintained his innocence, telling the court, "I am an innocent man."

The judge, however, referenced witness statements and Pugh's own lengthy criminal history before handing down the sentence. Demetrius Pugh was sentenced to 36 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of extended supervision. The sentencing marked the end of a long and agonizing journey for Jerry Davis Jr.'s family, finally bringing a measure of closure and ensuring that the man responsible for his death was brought to justice.