A man accused of killing the mother of two children early Saturday is now in custody at the Volusia County Jail.
- Jamal Kareem Davis, 35, charged with 1st degree murder
- Davis confessed to shooting victim
- Davis then attempted to commit suicide by driving his car into a tree
Jamal Kareem Davis, 35, is charged with the murder of Justine Clawson, as well as two counts of child neglect.
Port Orange police said an argument between Davis and Clawson inside their apartment in the Victoria Gardens Apartment complex led Davis to shoot Clawson twice with a handgun. The two were arguing over custody issues regarding their two children, according to an official release.
Investigators said Davis then drove to Ormond Beach, dropped off Clawson's 1 and 2-year-old kids near a shopping plaza, and subsequently tried to commit suicide by running his car into a tree.
Davis survived the crash, and told first responders at the scene about dropping off the children. Later, he confessed to shooting Clawson while being interviewed by Port Orange Police.
The victim, Justine Clawson, lived here at the Victoria Gardens Apartment complex in Port Orange. (Brittany Jones, staff)
Neighbors who often saw the young mother around the apartment complex were shocked.
"This is one of the last places I would think this would ever happen," said neighbor Bill Salhab. "[The children are] the big losers in this, they basically lost both of their parents."
Co-workers of Clawson at the Port Orange Hair Cuttery location where she worked were visibly shaken by the news, and declined to comment when we spoke to them.
The children are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Neighbors are praying for the best for the kids.
"We pray for the family and pray for the kids," said Salhab. "God bless them, I don't know how old they are, but they need everything they can."
Davis is being held without bond. He could have his first appearance before a judge as early as Sunday.