Picnic Day shooter pleads guilty in federal case

Davis Police Chief Todd Henry said the guilty plea "represents an important step toward justice for the victims who were injured and for a community that was shaken by an act of senseless violence.

"Our thoughts remain with the individuals who were harmed and their families. No court outcome can undo the trauma caused by gun violence, but accountability matters," Henry added. "Holding offenders responsible is essential not only for the victims’ healing, but also for restoring a sense of safety and trust in our community."

Davis’ plea comes four months after a federal grand jury handed down a one-count indictment against the teen, who authorities say already had two prior weapon convictions that prohibited him from possessing either firearms or ammunition at the time of the April 12 shooting.

Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and many more fled in terror as a result of the gunfire, which erupted during a rap concert hosted by a UC Davis fraternity that drew a large crowd to Community Park.

An FBI special agent’s affidavit contained a federal complaint said Davis, an alleged gang member, admitted to taking a short rifle to the park festivities “because he needed it for protection. …Davis fired his rifle in self-defense as it was ‘four vs. one.’”

Davis police later said that multiple people shot weapons during the altercation. No additional arrests have been made, but Henry said police are still working to identify the other suspects.

According to the affidavit, video footage and eyewitness accounts showed Davis wearing a black hoodie with a design of crosses on its back, which police later recovered from some bushes on Faro Avenue, about a half-mile north of the park. It tested positive for gunshot residue.

Although Davis threw his firearm into a river following the shooting, police seized an “AR-15-style pistol” loaded with nearly two dozen rounds of ammunition during a May 23 search of his Sacramento residence, the affidavit says.

And photos recovered from Davis’ cell phone and Instagram account also showed a person — believed to be Davis — in possession of firearms, according to the FBI agent.

Initially charged in Yolo Superior Court, Davis saw his case moved to federal court in July. Officials with the Yolo County District Attorney's Office confirmed they asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to handle the matter in order to elevate Davis’ potential sentence from the three- to four-year maximum he faced locally.

“Mr. Davis in an extreme threat to public safety, not just in Yolo County but in Sacramento County as well, and we believe the best protection for the public would be to have him prosecuted in federal court,” Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrett Hamilton previously told The Enterprise. “What happened on Picnic Day was extremely scary, and people got hurt. We’re just glad it wasn’t worse.”

— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net