An admitted gang member who shot a man over a $20 debt in 2017 was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison.
Jacob A. Shockey
An Arapahoe County jury found Shockey guilty of second-degree murder on Oct. 30, 2019. Sentencing was delayed seven times, in part because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting court operations.
“Justice delayed is not always justice denied,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “In this case, a vicious murderer who callously took the life of another man is going to spend a long time in prison. This does not bring back the victim, but hopefully it brings some measure of relief to his family.”
On Aug. 24, 2017, Aurora Police officers found Davis’ body in an alley in the 1400 block between Boston and Chester streets near Colfax Avenue. He had been shot three times.
The police investigation identified Shockey, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in October 2017. Evidence showed Shockey was angry at Davis, who owed him $20. Shockey had threatened Davis in the past. Shockey and another man led Davis into a dark alley where he was shot twice in the chest and once in the face.
During the Webex sentencing hearing on Jan. 12, Davis’ family members spoke to the judge, urging a maximum sentence.
“Without any thought or remorse, he viciously murdered my brother,” Davis’ sister said. “I will never be able to forget what that animal has done and what he has taken from my family.”
“I have been left to stand in the gap and do all that I can for our kids,” the mother of his children told the judge. “It is not fair for someone to take another person’s future. … My kids and I are still hurting.”
Assistant District Attorney Tom Byrnes asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence; the range was 16-48 years in prison.
“This defendant showed total disregard for the value of Mr. Davis’ life,” Byrnes said in his sentencing argument. “And after he killed Mr. Davis, he tried to intimidate witnesses. … Even after his murder trial there have been other charges while he has been in custody.”
“His decisions are not demonstrating optimism as to his rehabilitative potential. He has not taken accountability,” said Byrnes, who tried the case with Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Vicki Klingensmith.
Judge Spear noted that the loss of an individual from our community is “one of the most grave offenses that can be committed.” He sentenced Shockey to 40 years in the Department of Corrections.
Shockey has a criminal history in Colorado, Nevada and Pennsylvania. At the time of Davis’ shooting, he was on probation out of Adams County for motor vehicle theft. When Aurora police went to arrest him, he was in the Denver jail on charges of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in that case and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2018.
The Arapahoe County DOC sentence will run consecutive to his Denver case.
