Family urges life sentence at hearing for man in 2021 Ocean Drive killing

Update (Oct. 27): On the hearing’s second day Tuesday, Davis took the witness stand and apologized to the victim’s family, CBS News Miami reported. He said he would carry regret and shame for the rest of his life and blamed his decision to take psychedelic mushrooms, which he called irresponsible, according to the station. His mother, father and sister testified on his behalf, and his mother asked the judge for mercy, CBS News Miami reported; Local 10 also reported that the family pleaded for mercy. No sentence had been imposed as of Tuesday evening; the hearing is set to continue Wednesday, CBS News Miami reported.

Developing: a sentence had not been announced as of Tuesday evening.

Relatives of a Colorado tourist killed on Ocean Drive in 2021 asked a Miami judge on Monday to sentence his killer to life in prison, CBS News Miami, WSVN and NBC 6 reported.

Tamarius Davis, 27, pleaded guilty in May to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and child abuse, according to CBS News Miami. The case stems from a shooting on Aug. 24, 2021, at a restaurant in the 1400 block of Ocean Drive in South Beach, where the 21-year-old victim was dining with his family.

What was said in court

Prosecutors showed video evidence at Monday’s hearing, WSVN reported, and family members gave victim impact statements. The victim’s mother said she forgave Davis while still asking for a life sentence, according to the outlets. The victim’s father also addressed Davis directly in court.

Prosecutors said Davis pointed a gun at the victim’s 1-year-old son before the shooting, WSVN reported. Davis is from Georgia, CBS News Miami reported.

What happens next

The sentencing hearing continues Tuesday morning, according to CBS News Miami. WSVN reported that Davis faces 20 years to life in prison; the sentence had not been imposed when those reports were published. The reports did not name the presiding judge.