The unsolved murder of Andre "Big Dre" Davis, who was gunned down during a robbery in 2019 at Givens Park, continues to echo through the community of East Austin, with his loved ones still seeking answers. Despite the passage of nearly five years, the Davis family and friends hold on tightly to the hope of attaining justice for a man they describe as full of love and kindness.
Arbor Davis, sister of the slain man, has remained steadfast in her familial love, speaking to FOX 7 Austin about her continued grief and the relentless pursuit of closure. "Big Dre" was known to frequently relax at the East 12th Street park, where he was fatally shot. "It's not hard anymore because this was one of his favorite places to be. This is where Dre hung out every day," Arbor recollected.
Davis' friends, alongside his family, also honor his memory. Yvonda Jeffries, a close friend, recounted to CBS Austin the shock of losing him. "We love Dre. And we want the community to come together. We don’t want violence," she said, expressing a sentiment of unity over the mourning of Davis. Jeffries' last memory of Davis was seeing him just a couple of hours before the incident.
Police have struggled to track down the perpetrators, despite having arrested a man in May 2019 only to later drop the charges. Descriptions were given of one of the suspects as well as a vehicle—a black Nissan sedan—that was seen fleeing the scene, yet leads have since grown cold. Austin police continue to urge anyone with information to step forward, insisting that community collaboration is essential to piecing together the unanswered questions that have lingered for years.
The Davis family's resilience is palpable, stressing a message of healing and continuance. "The ones that know what happened, come forward. I want them to know that Dre deserves justice. I would just ask them to come forward with the truth," Arbor Davis pleaded. The family held a balloon release for gun violence awareness, symbolizing both remembrance and a call to action. As Arbor told FOX 7 Austin, "We're not angry. We were raised to be kind, loving, and understanding, so we try to understand the situation and understand what happened and continue to go on as a family, just continue to uplift Dre's name and try to keep his name alive and continue to try to get justice for Dre."
Those possessing any relevant information about Andre Davis' case are encouraged to contact the APD Cold Case Unit or to submit tips anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers, where a reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest. The community's engagement stands as a potential key to unlocking the truth behind a tragedy that continues to haunt a neighborhood, a family, and the many who knew and loved "Big Dre."
