A sibling of the Central Michigan University student accused of killing his parents in his dorm room said in a social media post that he is devastated by the the deaths of his mother and father, but asked for prayers and support for his brother.
"I STILL LOVE MY BROTHER!" Russell Matthew Davis said in a weekend Facebook post "I want him safe, supported and prayed for just like my sister Alexis Davis and I."
James Eric Davis Jr., 19, is accused of shooting to death his parents, James Eric Davis Sr. and Diva Jeneen Davis, early Friday morning in his dorm room in Campbell Hall setting off a day-long manhunt in Mt. Pleasant, Police said the gun found at the scene was registered to the father, a Bellwood, Ill., police officer.
Campus Police Chief Bill Yeagley said younger Davis can be seen on surveillance video in the dorm’s parking lot with the gun before he entered the residence hall where his parents were shot around 8:30 a.m. Friday. The 19-year-old was arrested early Saturday morning standing near a railroad track. Police said Yeagley appears to be hypothermic and was not making sense, so he was taken to an area hospital under police guard.
Russell Davis in his Facebook post asked for prayers for him and his family.
"It’s so surreal, I’m in shock and even in denial... it’s a hard pill to swallow, a heavy load to bear. I can’t wrap my mind around this, nor make any sense of this," he wrote.
He asked that his brother not be vilified.
"One thing I must add... to the media and opinionated people... Please don’t make a villain of my brother... that is NOT who he is... and despite the circumstances, he also lost a mother and father... And I LOVE him. Consider that!"
Twitter user @itsAmoneyy, believed to be Davis' sister Alexis, posted the following statement Saturday: "Today i lost my parents..the only people that loved me unconditionally. I'm thankful for every single thing they've done for me...All i ask is for everyone to me an the rest of my family in your prays. You don't have to stress no more mom an dad i love you."
Police said Davis Jr.'s parents had picked him up Friday morning from a hospital where he had been brought for suspected drug abuse. His parents had planned to take him home.
Davis Jr.'s interactions with the police began Thursday, when the sophomore came to a CMU community police officer frightened, saying someone he knew had a gun and was going to hurt him. After police investigated further, Yeagley said officers informed Davis there was no threat and he told them he would be leaving in the morning.
Three to four hours later, Yeagley said Davis Jr. was seen by officers in the area with a number of suitcases and bags, acting in a fashion "that is not reasonable or logical."
Yeagley said an officer then asked Davis Jr. to call his parents and communicated with his mother, telling her what they observed and shared concern this behavior may be related to drugs. Yeagley said Davis Jr.'s mother shared this concern.
Officers then took Davis, Jr. to the hospital, and Yeagley said Davis Jr. stayed until the following morning when he was picked up by his parents. Yeagley said the family had come back to Campbell Hall to pack up.
Yeagley said a witness, whose statement has been corroborated by surveillance video, told police Davis Jr. came from the parking lot and into the residence hall with a gun, before shots were reported.
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