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By
Tomas Coles
- June 2, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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Over the bitter tears of the victim’s family, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor sentenced 23-year-old Davon Evans to 15 years on May 30. The term was imposed for acting as a getaway driver for three shooters in the Feb. 14, 2023 murder of Dionte Larry Williams, 18.
Evans is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of having a handgun in his vehicle, and one count each of felony firearm use and conspiracy in connection to the shooting, which occurred on the 1900 block of Belair Road. Evans previously pleaded guilty to one of two murder charges.
Williams’ mother presented a victim impact statement detailing how losing her teenage son caused their family immense pain. She urged Judge Taylor to sentence Evans to life in prison, the maximum penalty for first-degree murder.
“I don’t think 30 years is enough,” she said.
On the other hand, Evans’ sister spoke at length about her brother’s virtues. She said he was a good person who promised to stay by and support their mother, who suffered from cancer, until her passing.
Evans also took the opportunity to apologize for his actions, saying they extinguished his dreams of becoming a professional boxer.
“I failed myself,” he told Judge Taylor.
The prosecution asked Judge Taylor for a sentence of life in prison, suspending all but 30 years. They argued the harsh sentence would serve as a “deterrent, a punishment and a message” to Evans.
They maintained Evans was a significant enabler of the murder, and Williams might have survived if Evans hadn’t acted as the three shooters’ getaway driver expediting the killing. Evans also reportedly lied to police during initial investigations, giving contradictory and self-serving statements, before eventually admitting his involvement.
Defense attorney Deborah Warner-Dennis urged Judge Taylor to consider the minimum sentence of life, suspending all but time served. She said Evans neither shot at nor expected the trio of shooters to kill Williams, believing they only planned to “beat him up.”
She also emphasized Evans’ attempts at self-improvement, saying he struggled with developmental challenges throughout his life that he’s trying to overcome through rehabilitation and educational programs while incarcerated.
Judge Taylor ultimately settled on a moderate sentence of life, suspending all but 15 years, followed by five years of supervised probation upon release. Should Evans fail to abide by the terms of his sentence, the court may hold him to his suspended life sentence.
“We’re all better than the worst things we’ve done,” said Judge Taylor as he made his ruling.
His words failed to assuage either family’s pain, and both parties were left in tears as the courtroom vacated.
No further hearings were scheduled.