Plainfield Parents Mourned By Police, Mayor After CMU Shooting

BELLWOOD, IL — Bellwood police and village officials remembered Officer James E. Davis Sr., a man Mayor Andre F. Harvey called "a pillar in the community," as well as Davis' wife, Diva Davis, a "wonderful woman," during a somber press conference on Friday evening. The Plainfield couple was killed Friday morning in a residence hall at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. Their son, 19-year-old James Eric Davis Jr., a Plainfield Central graduate, is suspected in his parents' murders and was taken into custody just after midnight local time, CMU confirmed.

James Eric Davis Sr. and Diva Davis had two other children, a son and daughter, in addition to James Jr., according to Harvey. Police in Michigan said the couple was fatally shot Friday morning at Campbell Hall, reportedly as they arrived to pick up their son for spring break. According to authorities, James Davis Jr. had been hospitalized Thursday night for a possibly drug-related incident but was released Friday morning prior to the shooting.

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Harvey said he knew Officer Davis, a Bellwood native, for most of his life. The elder Davis was a part-time officer for the Bellwood Police Department and a career military man who served several tours overseas, was an Illinois National Guard Recruiter and served as a police officer at Hines Veterans Hospital. Harvey said Davis was with the police department for 20 years and served several tours of duty overseas. While Harvey couldn't say with certainty where Davis had been stationed, the Chicago Tribune reported that James Davis Sr. served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"James Davis touched everyone's lives in the Village of Bellwood," Harvey said. While he wouldn't comment on whether he believes 19-year-old Davis Jr. is responsible for his parents' deaths, Harvey said, "We're stunned that James Davis (Sr.) is not here with us anymore and that someone tragically took his life."

Harvey said he did not know Diva Davis well but had met her several times. According to her Facebook page, the Plainfield mother was a real estate broker and breast cancer survivor.

Acting Bellwood Police Chief Jiminez Allen said Bellwood police were in close contact with police in Michigan during the search for James Davis Jr. Of his colleague James Davis Sr., Allen said, "James was a close personal friend of mine, as well as many officers with the Bellwood Police Department ... He will be truly missed."

Harvey said Bellwood officials will work to support the Davis family in the wake of the tragedy. "We will be in contact with the family," he said, adding, "(The Village of Bellwood) is James Davis' family as well."

Counseling will be provided for police and community members in Bellwood, officials said.

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Meanwhile, CMU police and Michigan State Police conducted a manhunt for James Davis Jr. on Friday night. Before the teen was apprehended, Harvey said there was no evidence he was headed for the Bellwood area, a sentiment echoed Friday night by police in Plainfield, where the 19-year-old attended both Plainfield South and Plainfield Central high schools and played for the basketball teams.

"We have no indication that the suspect is heading to Plainfield," Plainfield police said on Facebook. "However, please remain aware."

CMU said James Davis Jr. was taken into custody just after midnight local time after someone spotted him on a train on the north end of campus. The person reported the sighting and police took Davis into custody without incident, according to the university.

James Eric Davis Sr./Village of Bellwood