ZION, IL — A 36-year-old man has been convicted of murder and attempted murder in connection with a 2018 home invasion in Zion that left a woman dead and two others injured.
A Lake County jury found Tracy Davis Jr. guilty Tuesday of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for his role in the Feb. 16, 2018, shooting that killed 36-year-old Kaleah Beville. Davis was convicted as an accomplice to Zavian Wells, who was found guilty in August 2024 and sentenced to 70 years in prison for his role in the deadly home invasion, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
The shooting happened at a home in the 2800 block of Edina Boulevard, where Zion police responding to reports of a home invasion and shots fired found three people suffering from gunshot wounds. Beville was flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she later died. The two other victims were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Wells was arrested 10 days after the shooting, but Davis was not taken into custody until February 2023, nearly five years after the crime.
Prosecutors said investigators identified Davis after discovering a 2018 Illinois Department of Corrections phone recording that placed him at the scene while the home invasion was underway.
During the seven-day trial, which began Nov. 2, prosecutors presented evidence that Davis and others had plotted to rob one of the victims, who had recently received a large settlement from a lawsuit. Authorities said the group learned about the money after seeing the victim with the cash in a Snapchat video filmed after he cashed the settlement check.
A cyber analyst testified that investigators examining Wells' cellphone identified an unknown phone number connected to the shooting. Further investigation linked the number to Davis, who had received a call from the Illinois Department of Corrections while the home invasion was taking place, prosecutors said.
Cellphone records also placed Davis near Wells at the time of the shooting and tracked his movements afterward to Round Lake Beach, where investigators later recovered the gun used in the attack.
During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Davis helped plan the robbery and was present when the shooting occurred, making him equally responsible for the crimes.
"Our partners in law enforcement and our experienced prosecutors never gave up on finding out who planned this attack with Wells," Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. "Because of their diligence and attention to detail, we have won the trial and helped secure a measure of justice for the victims."
Zion Police Chief Eric Barden credited detectives and prosecutors for continuing to investigate the case years after the shooting.
"Tracy Davis was an active participant in the planning and execution of a brutal home invasion that took the life of Kaleah Beville and left two others gravely wounded," Barden said. "While no sentence can restore what was lost, the verdict holds him accountable and reinforces our commitment to seeking justice for every victim of violent crime in Zion."
Jurors also found that Davis was armed with a firearm during the crime.
He faces between 35 and 120 years in prison when sentenced. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 3.
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