Crime & Safety

Baby Boy Born Days After Dad Was Killed by Suspected Drunk Driver

There's been an outpouring of support for the wife of the popular St. Petersburg chef in the days following her husband's death.

Ana and Aaron Davis welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on Tuesday. Aaron Davis, however, wasn’t there to witness his son’s arrival.

Davis, 31, of Largo was killed early Saturday when a suspected drunk driver barreled down a St. Petersburg road, failed to stop for a police officer, ran a red light and struck two pedestrians, according to police. Brian Lee LaFrance, 28, was also injured in the wreck.

St. Petersburg Police captured the moments before the fatal crash on a dash cam video released this week that shows the 2015 Dodge Charger as an officer gave chase and then pulled back. The driver of that car, Jason Lanard Mitchell, 25, faces a host of criminal charges, including vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter and aggravated fleeing and eluding, among others. Mitchell remained in the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday.

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As Mitchell awaits trial, the Davis family is working to pick up the pieces.

Find out what's happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Aaron Davis was a chef at the Kitchen St. Pete. His wife, Ana, is a chef at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The couple’s newborn son has been named Andrew Aaron Lawrence Davis. He has a big sister named Audrey, 2.

“Our baby boy couldn’t wait to celebrate his amazing daddy’s life and arrived early this morning at 2:45 a.m. weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 and a half inches long,” ABC quoted Ana Davis as saying after Tuesday’s birth. “Thank you everyone for your continuing and loving support. It means so much to me.”

As the family lays Aaron to rest and welcomes its new arrival, friends have launched a gofundme campaign to help cover expenses.

“This fund is being set up to help Aaron’s family with any upcoming financial needs,” wrote Ivan Culmer, a family friend who launched the online benefit. “You will be dearly missed my friend.”

The campaign had nearly reached its $30,000 goal as of Wednesday morning. It was launched on Saturday, shortly after Aaron’s death.

To help the family, visit gofundme online.

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