‘Senseless and heartless;’ Man killed in drive-by shooting while outside with young son

DAYTON — The mother of a man gunned down while outside playing with his 3-year-old son is demanding answers.

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Police said 36-year-old Jarrick Davidson was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Davidson was killed on a Sunday afternoon when he stopped by a relative’s home with three of his four sons for a family visit and meal.

As News Center 7 reported at 5:00, police say someone drove a stolen car into this neighborhood off Nicholas Road and shot bullets everywhere. Davidson was not likely the intended target, but the father of four suffered fatal injuries.

Michelle Cates said her son was only at this home on occasional Sunday afternoons to visit family. She said this drive-by gunfire is a horrifying crime.

“A senseless shooting like that, at 4:30 in the afternoon and kids outside, that was senseless and heartless,” Cates said.

Police said dozens of shots were fired in this incident and they believe there were five men, reportedly wearing masks, in a stolen BMW.

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News Center 7 spotted several homes in the area with gunshots. Davidson was rushed to the hospital after being hit.

“This has been the worst thing of my life, I have not been able to sleep, eat, this is just terrible,” Cates said.

Cates said her son had four sons himself, between the ages of 3 and 15.

“I want justice for my son, for his children, for his boys, they have to grow up now without their dad,” Cates said.

Cates said they’ve decided not to release pictures of her grandsons, but she shared memories of her own son, a graduate of Northmont High School.

She said Davidson was a self-employed handyman, always hustling and working to support his sons.

She hopes police can get enough information to make arrests and bring her justice for a son who should still be here.

“He was always so happy, the biggest smile, he loved to cut up with his family, I mean, he was just an amazing person and an amazing dad,” Cates said.

Police say they have no information that the men in that stolen car were targeting anyone in particular, certainly not Davidson. They are still working to identify those men.

We will continue following this story.

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