Ben Crump demands answers in the death of Vicksburg’s Morris Davis

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump held a press conference in Florida, Monday, May 18, concerning the death of Morris Davis, 48, a Vicksburg native who was killed in an altercation with police officers Saturday, May 9. His shooting death was caught on video and went viral following the incident.

“They did not have to shoot Morris Davis down like a dog in the street,” said Crump at the press conference held at the New Hope Ministry in Oak Park, Fla.

Davis was shot by a Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy. According to reports, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said they learned Davis had an outstanding warrant for homicide out of Mississippi.

The deputies were trying to confirm the warrant when Davis reportedly armed himself with two knives. He was in a neighbor’s yard when deputies claimed he was confrontational and was eventually shot three times.

The mother of Davis was at the press conference, and through tears, said, “They didn’t have to do him like that. He was on the ground.” To which Crump responded, “He did not pose a threat to anybody when they executed him.”

The hour-long news conference included members of the Davis family. Crump told them, “We are going to stand with you, we are going to fight with you, and we are going to get justice with you.”

A widely shared video of the police shooting of Davis was also shared by the Vicksburg Daily News, causing anger in some parts of the community.

“I get it, that video is difficult to watch, and graphic,” said David Day, Publisher of the Vicksburg Daily News. “But it needs to be seen.”

“We’re going to get justice for Morris Davis,” concluded Crump.

Crump, who is based in Tallahassee, Fla., has focused his career on protecting the rights of marginalized citizens. He worked the cases of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, George Floyd, and others.