Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Monday 5 March 2018

Family friend: Son of parents slain in dorm a ‘good kid’

Guard, serving in the Iraq
War.
Murphy, 41, said the cou-
ple has an older son and
younger daughter. They
were “loving, ever-present
doting parents” to the chil-
dren, he added.
“They couldn’t brag on
their children enough,” he
said. “This was a nuclear
family — mother and father
together, raising their chil-
dren with values.”
Murphy said his family lived
within 2 miles (3.2 kilome-
ters) of the Davis family in
Plainfield before relocating
to St. Johns, Florida.
“Junior is a good kid. He’s
a great young man,” Mur-
phy said of Davis Jr. “He’s
the kind of young man who

Central Michigan University President George Ross speaks during a news conference at Central would hold the door and
Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Saturday, March 3, 2018. James Eric Davis Jr, step aside for adults.”
a 19-year-old student suspected of killing his parents at the university dormitory had just been Davis Jr. was taken to a
picked up from a hospital where campus police had brought him because of suspected drug hospital after his arrest
abuse, authorities said Saturday. Central Michigan University police Chief Bill Yeagley also told and was expected to be
reporters that the gun used in the killing was registered to the suspect’s father. moved to a jail once he’s
(Casey Sykes/The Grand Rapids Press via AP) discharged. It was not im-
By COREY WILLIAMS cruiters. a hospital, where he was mediately clear Sunday
Associated Press The parents were slain Fri- brought for suspected drug when he would make his
DETROIT (AP) — A suburban day morning in Davis Jr.’s abuse a day earlier after first court appearance.
Chicago couple whose Campbell Hall room at campus police officers said Central Michigan’s campus
19-year-old son allegedly Central Michigan University he was acting erratically, is in Mount Pleasant, about
shot them to death at his in Mount Pleasant. Davis Jr. university police Chief Bill 155 miles (249 kilometers)
college dormitory in Michi- fled and was arrested Sat- Yeagley has said. They took northwest of Detroit.
gan raised him and their urday morning. He faces him to his dorm to pack up The campus was on lock-
two other children well, a murder and gun charges. for spring break when they down Friday and officials
family friend said Sunday. “I’ve known him since he were shot with a gun that canceled events and ac-
James Eric Davis Sr. — who was 4 or 5,” Murphy said of belonged to Davis Sr. tivities that evening.
went by his middle name Davis Jr. “From knowing the Authorities have not said The school is on “spring
— and his wife, Diva, were family ... something out-of- whether drugs were found break all of this week so
“doting parents” and character occurred. Some- in Davis Jr.’s system. classes will resume as
raised James Eric Davis’ Jr. thing external affected the The family is from Plainfield, scheduled” on March 12,
“phenomenally,” said Jor- situation that caused this Illinois. Davis Sr. was a part- university spokeswoman
dan Murphy, who worked unfortunate tragedy to oc- time police officer in Bell- Heather Smith said Sunday.
from 2004 to 2008 with Da- cur.” wood, Illinois. He also had “Other university opera-
vis Sr. in Chicago as Illinois Davis Jr.’s parents had been a longtime member tions will resume as normal
Army National Guard re- just picked him up from of the Illinois Army National (Monday) morning.” q

Police ID man who killed self near White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Au- at the time, and the Secret
thorities have identified Service says no member of
the man who fatally shot the first family was at the
himself in front of the White White House then. Authori-
House. Police say it was ties say none of the shots
26-year-old Cameron Ross appeared to have been
Burgess, recently of May- directed toward the White
lene, Alabama, who ap- House.
proached the fence along An Auburn University
the north side of the White spokesman told Al.com
House and fired several that Burgess graduated
rounds from a handgun from the school in 2013.
shortly before midday Sat- The newspaper reports that
urday. President Donald state records show for Bur-
Trump and first lady Mela- gess revealed no criminal
Law enforcement officers photograph the area in front of the nia Trump were in Florida history.q
White House in Washington, which is close to pedestrian traffic,
Saturday, March 3, 2018. Visit our website:
Associated Press www.arubatoday.com