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A Prince William County jury has convicted Michael C. Davis of kidnapping a New York woman and fatally shooting her during an exchange of gunfire with Virginia State Police on Interstate 95 in April 2023.
Davis, 38, was found guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder, abduction, attempted aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer and other charges.
Authorities said Davis abducted Tatiana David, the 34-year-old mother of his 4-year-old child, from her home in Ithaca, New York, on April 5, 2023. Police subsequently issued a lookout for his vehicle.
“Tatiana David did not deserve to die — she was abducted from her home by the defendant for reasons we may never know, and we don’t know what he intended to do to her,” Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth said.
Later that night, Davis was driving a Jeep Cherokee from Maryland into Virginia when a state trooper stopped him in the southbound lanes of I-95 in Fairfax County. The trooper spoke with Davis and spotted David in the backseat.
Davis sped away as the trooper waited for backup, prompting a police pursuit. Prosecutors said he drove recklessly for more than 20 miles before crashing into a wooded area beside I-95 in Prince William County.
Davis then opened fire from the driver’s seat, and troopers returned fire. David was found dead in the Jeep’s backseat with multiple gunshot wounds.
Autopsy and ballistics findings determined that the bullets that killed David came from Davis’ gun.
No troopers were injured. Davis suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.
His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.