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Lamar A. Davis

Age : 18

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/28/2022

Location : Bangor Downs Townhouses, 3325 Alarie Drive

City : Bangor Charter Township

County : Bay

State : Michigan

Agency : Bay County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Christopher Van Horn

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police after homicide

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/28/2022, Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher VanHorn shot and killed 18-year-old Lamar A. Davis inside an apartment at Bangor Downs Townhouses, 3325 Alarie Drive in Bangor Township. Deputies had been dispatched at approximately 3:25 a.m. after a 911 call reporting gunfire and a person shot inside the apartment.
When deputies entered, they found 27-year-old Bethany Taylor dead from a gunshot wound. Taylor lived in the apartment with her two sons, ages 2 and 3. Police subsequently alleged that Davis had shot Taylor in front of the children, although investigators initially said they were still working to determine the circumstances preceding her death and the nature of the relationship between Taylor and Davis.
Davis was still inside the apartment when deputies entered. According to Michigan State Police and Bay County Sheriff Troy Cunningham, Davis was armed with a handgun and allegedly presented a deadly threat to the deputies. The available reporting does not provide a detailed reconstruction of Davis’s movements immediately before VanHorn fired or specify whether Davis fired at deputies. VanHorn shot Davis, who was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Michigan State Police investigated the shooting independently of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. VanHorn was placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation and prosecutorial review were underway. Investigators collected forensic evidence and awaited medical-examiner findings while continuing to investigate both Taylor’s death and VanHorn’s shooting of Davis.
The later investigation identified VanHorn publicly, correcting the initial reports in which the sheriff’s office had withheld the shooter’s name. The Bay County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the shooting and ruled VanHorn’s use of deadly force justified. VanHorn subsequently returned to duty on 10/03/2022.
Bethany Taylor’s death should be distinguished from Davis’s police killing. Investigators alleged that Davis killed Taylor before deputies arrived; she was not struck by police gunfire. Her two young children survived and were subsequently placed in the care of family members.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Christopher VanHorn was the Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputy who fired the fatal shots. The Bay County Prosecutor’s Office ruled his shooting of Davis justified, and VanHorn returned to duty after the decision.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.ourmidland.com/news/police_and_courts/article/Investigation-continues-in-Bay-County-double-17455162.php
https://www.wnem.com/2022/08/28/msp-investigating-deadly-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.ourmidland.com/news/police_and_courts/article/Officer-involved-shooting-ruled-justified-17484187.php
https://www.wnem.com/2022/09/02/police-identifying-suspect-woman-found-dead-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.ourmidland.com/news/police_and_courts/article/Midland-man-18-suspected-of-homicide-killed-by-17415577.php