Yesterday, 30-year-old Davon Howes was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for his involvement in a 2020 freeway shooting in the San Francisco Bay Area. Judge Robert Bowers delivered the sentence after Howes entered a "no contest" plea to all charges except for attempted murder, which was dropped by prosecutors according to Mercury News. Howes had already spent three and a half years in jail since his arrest on March 26, 2020, and due to California law, double the amount of time spent in jail will be deducted from his sentence, leaving him to serve only a year and four months in prison.
The case dates back to an early morning on March 27, 2020, when Howes allegedly shot another driver in the head while on the freeway. The shooting victim managed to drive himself off the freeway and call the police, who found him at around 2:18 AM. He was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, ultimately leading to Howes' arrest later that day, according to CBS San Francisco.
The victim informed authorities that he had prior conflicts with Howes, and this seemingly culminated when Howes noticed the victim leaving a fast food restaurant on Admiral Callaghan Lane. Howes reportedly followed the victim onto the freeway and eventually pulled up alongside their car, pointing a gun out of his passenger window and shooting the victim. Howes had originally pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal possession of ammunition. However, he eventually took a plea deal on August 28, just two days before his scheduled jury trial as reported by Mercury News.
Howes' past criminal history includes a prior conviction for murder as a juvenile in 2009, for which he served time and was later released. At the time of the 2020 shooting, he was also on probation out of Sacramento County for domestic violence charges CBS San Francisco noted. During a search of his residence following his arrest, police officers discovered a Glock pistol with an extended magazine.
In a statement from 2020, then-Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams praised his officers for their "caliber, commitment, and courage," but one cannot help but ponder whether Howes' short remaining prison sentence is sufficient in preventing future acts of violence.
