Note: The above video is from July 4, 2023, reporting on the shooting that took place July 3, 2023.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A jury found Bryston Alexander Davis, 23, guilty of conspiring to commit second-degree murder and other charges in the 2023 shooting death of a man on Hollister Avenue in Norfolk.
Davis, 23, in addition to being found guilty of conspiring to commit second-degree murder, was also found guilty last month of shooting into an occupied residence and using a firearm in the commission of a felony in the death of Jalaun Latavis Colbert, 28 in Colbert’s home. Davis had been arrested back in July 2023. After having a first-degree murder charge reduced to a second-degree murder charge during his trial, a jury found Davis not guilty of second-degree murder.
Another man, Leon M. Williams, had also been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Williams pleaded guilty last Thursday to second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Around 10:07 p.m. July 3, 2023, officers responded to the 2900 block of Hollister Avenue for a report of a gunshot disturbance. When police got to the scene, they found a man, later identified as Colbert, to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he dies from his injuries six days later.
According to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, Williams, Davis and another unidentified person drove to Colbert’s home on Hollister Avenue and shot Colbert multiple times, also striking Colbert’s house while he was standing outside smoking a cigarette. Colbert’s mother and their dog were inside the house and were not injured.
Norfolk Police, during their investigation, got footage from a 7-Eleven in Virginia Beach where Davis, Williams and the victim were seen before the shooting. They also got footage from a doorbell camera on Hollister Avenue that showed the events surrounding the shooting.
About two hours before the shooting, Williams’ girlfriend got in touch with Colbert’s girlfriend and told her to bring Colbert with her to meet at the 7-Eleven, according to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. When Colbert and his girlfriend arrived at the 7-Eleven, Williams and Davis got out of Williams’ girlfriend’s car, walked up to Colbert’s car and got into what it described as a heated argument with Colbert, during which they pointed guns at Colbert and his girlfriend.
Colbert and his girlfriend drove away, and the two parted ways, with Colbert going to his home on Hollister Avenue. Williams, Davis and the other unidentified person later went to Hollister Avenue using Williams’ girlfriend’s car, walking up to Colbert’s house while leaving the car running, then shooting Colbert multiple times before fleeing in that car.
Both Williams and Davis were arrested within two weeks of the shooting, and the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office got direct indictments from a grand jury against both men for added charges of first-degree murder, conspiring to commit first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Williams, after his guilty plea, faces an active prison sentence of up to 19 years, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office said. In exchange for his guilty pleas, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office agreed to drop the other charges against Williams, who has a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 11.
Davis pleaded not guilty to his charges and chose to be tried by jury. After all the evidence was heard in his case, presiding Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise reduced the first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder after a motion from Davis’ defense counsel.
After about five hours of deliberation, the jury found Davis not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of conspiring to commit murder, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Davis’ sentencing hearing is June 27.
“Once again, doorbell camera footage, witness cooperation and good police work have led to convictions for two people who committed a violent crime,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi in a statement. “Mr. Williams chose a fair compromise and agreed to plead guilty. Mr. Davis, against whom the evidence was not as strong, chose to go to trial, as is his right. We appreciate the thoughtfulness of the jury in their work. Here in Norfolk, we will continue to try tough cases to afford victims and the accused their day in court, and we will continue to focus our office’s resources on holding accountable the people who commit violent crimes.”
