Dantrell Davis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 31, 1985 |
| Died | October 13, 1992(1992-10-13) (aged 7) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Known for | Homicide victim |
Dantrell Davis (July 31, 1985 – October 13, 1992) was anAfrican-American boy fromChicago,Illinois, who was murdered in October 1992. Davis was walking to school with his mother in theCabrini-Greenhousing projects when he was accidentally shot by Anthony Garrett, a member of a localstreet gang who intended to shoot a rival. Dantrell's death sparked an increased awareness of the extensive violence occurring in Chicago's inner-city projects, and led to the first street gangtruce in Cabrini–Green, which lasted for three years. Garrett was convicted offirst-degree murder for Davis' death, and received a 100-year sentence.
Shortly after 9:00 a.m. on the morning of October 13, 1992, 7-year-old Dantrell Davis was walking with his mother Annette Freeman toJenner Elementary School where he was afirst grader, from his home at 502 W. Oak Street, a 19–storyhigh-rise belonging to theChicago Housing Authority in theCabrini-Greenhousing project in Chicago'sNear North Side. While walking to school, Davis was struck by abullet fired by Anthony Garrett, who was perched in a 10th-floor apartment in the nearby 1157–59 N Cleveland Avenue high-rise building, and was pronounced dead atChildren's Memorial Hospital. Garrett was arrested only hours after he shot Davis, and the following day signed a5+1⁄2-page confession stating that he was aiming to kill rival gang members when he accidentally shot Davis as he walked past his target. Garrett wasindicted onfirst degree murder charges on November 5, 1992, and sentenced to 100 years in prison on March 8, 1994.
The murder of Davis gained national attention, and brought an increasing awareness to the street violence that was rampant in Chicago's inner-city housing projects. The reputation of Cabrini-Green worsened further, which had already become synonymous with the problems associated with public housing in the United States. Davis' death was one of several events that contributed to Cabrini-Green's gradualdemolition and redevelopment of Cabrini-Green beginning in the late 1990s.
On March 5, 1993, the section of N Cleveland Avenue between W Oak Street and W Hobbie Street, where Davis had been killed, was given the honorary name Dantrell Davis Way.[1][2] The honorary street sign still remains, although much of the Cabrini–Green housing project, including Davis' home and the building he was shot from, have since been demolished.[3] Derek Ault, a teacher at Jenner Elementary School, started the Dantrell Davis Peace Party.[2]
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