Convicted York murderer swears at victim's family
Jeff Reid Jr., 29, was convicted of all counts, including first- and second-degree murder, in the death of Dashaun Davis, 23. Reid is set to be sentenced on April 29.
For more than three days, Jeff Reid Jr. sat at the defense table, occasionally whispering to his attorney, as he stood trial in the York County Court of Common Pleas.
The jury came back on Thursday with guilty verdicts for charges including first- and second-degree murder. And Reid did not hold back.
First, he swore at the jury. Then, after standing up, Reid turned to face the family and friends of Dashaun Davis, who was killed on July 19, 2014, while sitting in his car, listening to music on Union Street near North Newberry Street in York:
He swore at them, too.
The jury took about three hours to convict Reid of those offenses, as well as: two counts of attempted robbery; conspiracy to commit robbery; and robbery. Common Pleas Judge Harry M. Ness then found him guilty of persons not to possess firearms, because jurors determined that Reid, 29, of York, had a gun that night.
He’s set to be sentenced on April 29. The punishment for the first-degree murder conviction is a mandatory life term.
Once Reid was escorted out of the courtroom by deputy sheriffs, Paul DeHart and Andy Baez of the York City Police Department walked back into the gallery and embraced members of Davis’ family. So did the prosecutors.
“I was obviously relieved that the jury returned the verdict that they did,” First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Russell said following the trial. “That was just for the family of Dashaun Davis.”
In her closing argument, Russell said Reid is the reason why Davis was “executed” in his car — all for a cellphone.
Reid, she said, put together a “robbery crew” that night, because he needed money to get out of town. They had tried to steal from two other people, but were unsuccessful. Later, he directed Naquan “Squeeze” Coakley, 24, to shoot Davis.
Korey Leslie, Reid’s attorney, said in an interview after court it’s clear that the jury took its role in the case seriously. Russell, he said, also gave a good closing argument.
“I wasn’t shocked that they returned that verdict,” Leslie said. “I have to respect the role the jurors played.”
Before leaving the York County Judicial Center, Chamaine Carlo, Davis’ mother, described her son as an “amazing child."
Whenever he touched a ball — during basketball, handball — “it was like magic.” She said her son worked three jobs and aspired to start his own business.
He was 23.
Carlo thanked the police and prosecutors. And she also expressed gratitude for everyone who came forward with information in the case.
Said Carlo: “There is now an animal that is off the streets.”
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 771-2102.
Five others have or still face charges related to the case
- Naquan “Squeeze” Coakley, 24, of York, is charged with first-degree murder and related offenses. It has not been determined yet whether he's competent to stand trial.
- Latasha Thomas, 31, of Lancaster, is charged with robbery, attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Her next court date is April 13.
- Malik “Problem” Williams, 20, of York, pleaded guilty last April to two counts of attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. It's not clear when he’s due back in court.
- Shonique Smith-Hanna, 26, of York, pleaded guilty last April to attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. She has not been sentenced.
- Karina Dejesus, 25, of Lancaster County, faces a charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Dejesus and Reid were arrested in Richmond, Virginia, after the crime. She has a court date set for April 11.