On April 1, 2026 Zaki Davis, 26, was found guilty of murdering 7-month-old Israel Williams in Charlotte, NC.
On the evening of December 17, 2021, Zaki was the person supervising and providing
care to 7-month-old Israel at a home. Davis was in a dating relationship with Israel’s mother, who was at work. Zaki was not the daddy.
Davis fed Israel and texted pictures and updates to Israel’s mother throughout the evening to check in with her. He sent a photograph to her at 9:23 p.m. of his mother, who was also in the home, holding Israel. After
that, Davis and Israel were upstairs together alone.
Less than 30 minutes later, Israel was unresponsive and had suffered abusive head trauma and
non-accidental trauma intentionally inflicted by Davis around 9:50 p.m. prosecutors say.
Cell phone data revealed Davis searched the internet for “baby acting lifeless” and “baby not responding but
heart is” before calling 911 at 9:59 p.m.
Israel was transported to Levine Children’s Hospital where he succumbed to extensive injuries a short time later.
Zaki was arrested for first degree murder. The jury found him guilty as charged. Judge
Sellers sentenced Davis to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
