A 33-year-old mail carrier was fatally shot while on duty in his United States Postal Service (USPS) van on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Warren, Ohio, a city located about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland.
On the day of the incident, emergency responders were dispatched to Olive Avenue at around 1:44 p.m., where they found Jonte Davis, a mail carrier, critically injured with gunshot wounds.
Officers administered emergency first aid at the scene, and Davis was subsequently taken to Trumbull Regional Medical Center. Despite the lifesaving efforts, he passed away at the hospital.
The Warren Police Department (WPD) suspects that the attack on Davis was not random but targeted, with indications that Davis and the assailant might have known each other.
Based on a 911 call from a resident, a gray pickup truck was seen passing by Davis’s postal vehicle, discharging four to five shots before heading off in the direction of Washington Street towards North Park Avenue. A separate 911 call indicated the postal vehicle veered off the road into a nearby yard.
WPD, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the USPS Postal Inspectors, subsequently discovered the alleged perpetrator’s vehicle at 429 Maryland Ave NE. With support from the Mahoning Valley Crisis Response Team, the police searched the premises, which led to several people being brought in for questioning, as stated in a press release.
At this stage, no arrests have been made by the WPD. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has warned that the suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Warren Mayor Doug Franklin has assured the public that law enforcement is exhaustively working to apprehend those responsible and extended his sympathies to the victim’s family.
A close family acquaintance of Davis informed a local news outlet that Davis leaves behind ten children, aged between three and 14, who are struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
A vigil is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the Warren post office, where attendees are encouraged to wear green in homage to Davis’s preferred color.
“He was always a source of positivity and devoted to his family. He deeply cherished his mother and brother and aimed to be an exemplary figure for his children by leading a life of integrity,” the family friend recounted.
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Davis’s family, with donations being accepted. Larry Davis paid tribute to his brother on the fundraising page saying, “On March 2nd, we experienced the unthinkable loss of my brother during his mail delivery route. He was a gentle soul who never caused harm to anyone. He was known as an exceptionally kind mail carrier, a good man, and a father to several children. I cannot recall anyone at the post office who didn’t hold him in high regard; he was genuinely a wonderful person all around.”
The contributions will go towards covering Jonte’s funeral expenses and helping the family navigate through their time of loss.
The USPS is offering a reward of $250,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of the postal worker.
“The Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety and security of postal workers above all and is committed to working alongside law enforcement agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this heinous act are prosecuted,” stated Ian Ortega, a USPS postal Inspector from the Cleveland Office.
