BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Ayanna Carr says her 30 year-old daughter Deyanna Davis was behind the wheel of an SUV that plowed into a group of police officers, injuring three Monday night.
Carr says her daughter was not protesting, and was not part of any trouble that followed but had just left a gathering for her mother-in-law who had just died.
Carr says her daughter wound up in the middle of the chaos.
“She turned and heard the gunshots of allegedly a store owner,” said Carr. “She tried to duck down to avoid being shot herself and as she did, she drove through police,” her mom said. “I think she put her head down and tried to drive blindsided."
Carr believes her daughter panicked and kept driving. Officers then opened fire on the vehicle. Davis was shot four times in the back and four times in the stomach, and Carr says her daughter is now paralyzed.
Two other people were in the car with Davis, 25-year-old Semaj T. Pigram and 28-year-old Walter B. Stewart, Jr. both of Buffalo.
District Attorney John Flynn has charged both Pigram and Stewart with one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree. A stolen handgun was allegedly found inside the car.
“There were shell casings found that were not consistent with law enforcement,” DA Flynn said.
Police have now charged Davis with one count of aggravated assault upon a police officer, two counts of assault in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of criminal possession of stolen property. She was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
Flynn does corroborate the facts that the three were coming from a funeral and not part of any rioting, but says the car came onto Bailey blocks before the police barricade, and says Davis should have stopped.
DA Flynn said Wednesday he is in possession of other video that contradicts it being an “accident" and shows that her actions in driving the car for numerous blocks were not consistent with someone panicking.
Flynn says police are investigating any other potential shots fired.
