Grade school teacher NeShante Davis, 26, and her 2-year-old daughter, Chloe Davis-Green, were shot and killed outside their Fort Washington, Maryland, townhouse early Tuesday morning, according to police. A man who has been identified as the toddler’s father was arrested as a suspect later that day and reportedly confessed to the killings.
“We are pleased to announce, albeit with heavy hearts, that this case is closed after a father admitted to fatally shooting his 2-year-old daughter, Chloe, and the little girl’s mother, 26-year-old NeShante Davis,” Julie Parker, Prince George’s County Police Department media relations director, said during a press conference Wednesday evening.
Daron Boswell-Johnson, 25, told police that on the day of the shooting, he drove to Davis’ residence and waited down the street with the intention of confronting her about his child support payments once she and her daughter came outside. He had been proven to be Chloe’s father in December via a DNA test he took after a paternity suit. He was upset that he was ordered to pay $600 per month to the mother.
At around 7 a.m. when Davis and her daughter walked out of their home, Boswell-Johnson pointed his gun at the woman and told her to drop the request for $600 per month in child support. He then shot both Davis and Chloe multiple times, according to court documents and footage from surveillance cameras.
Prince George’s County police said the two bodies were found in the driveway. Chloe was taken to the hospital, but died.
Boswell-Johnson was arrested Tuesday in Montgomery County and was charged in the deaths of the mother and daughter. He faces two counts of first- and second-degree murder. He will likely be held without bond, NBC Washington News4 reported.
When News4 spoke with Davis’ mother, Carolyn Turner, and informed her that the suspect had been caught, the mourning woman said she just wants to ask him one question.
“Why? You didn’t have to shoot her or my grandbaby,” Turner said. She added that she had not known Chloe’s father very well.
Davis was likely headed to drop Chloe off at daycare before heading to work on the morning they were gunned down, according to school officials.
Davis was in her first year of teaching at Bradbury Heights Elementary School in Capitol Heights. She taught the second grade and was well liked among students and parents.
One parent, Tiffany Byrd, said she was unsure of how her son, a student in Davis’ class, would react to knowing that his teacher will not be returning to school.
“I have no idea how [he’ll] responded knowing she won’t be back now and he’ll have a new teacher,” she said of her son. “Miss Davis was awesome. She really, really helped him to improve a lot.”
Davis’ large family gathered at Community Temple Bibleway Church in Cheverly, Maryland, for prayer.
