Prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered closing arguments on Wednesday in the sentencing hearing of Tamarius Davis, the 27-year-old man who admitted killing a tourist on Miami Beach in 2021. The state is asking for life in prison, while the defense wants no more than 25 years.
Davis pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Dustin Wakefield. The sentencing hearing began on Monday, and Wednesday was its third day.
Wakefield was visiting from Colorado and was eating with his family at La Cerveceria, in the 1400 block of Ocean Drive, when the attack happened. According to the account of the case, Davis walked up and pointed a firearm at Wakefield's baby. Wakefield begged for his son's life and was then shot in front of his wife and the 1-year-old.
Prosecutor Casey Hughes told the court that Davis kept firing at the child's father. "Not once, not twice, not three times, not four, but five," Hughes said. He argued that the family has been handed a permanent punishment of their own. "The Wakefields have been forced to accept a life sentence," he said. "They will mourn the loss of Dustin for the rest of their lives. Tamarius Blair Davis deserves that same life sentence."
Davis attended in an orange jumpsuit and shackles as his lawyers made their case for leniency. The defense said Davis had taken psychedelic mushrooms before the shooting and was not aware of what he was doing. Attorney Juan Mourin stressed that the argument was not an excuse. "No one is seeking in any way to excuse Blair for what he did," he said.
Mourin said Davis is remorseful and accepts full responsibility. He described moments when Davis, alone in a room and unaware anyone was listening, muttered that someone should kill him and that he never thought he could do something like this. "That's the real Blair, your honor, and he's the one you'll be sentencing," Mourin said.
Davis had testified on Tuesday, emotional as he apologized to the family. "I will continue to pray for the Wakefield family in the hopes that everyone hurt by my inexcusable actions can find a way to heal," he said.
Wakefield's mother, Lora, spoke ahead of the sentencing and made a final appeal for accountability. She said she had forgiven Davis on the first day of the hearing, but still wants a firm outcome. "I think the world needs to see that there's consequences to the choices that you make," she said. She added that violence will continue unless people are held responsible: "It needs to stop. It needs to stop. Our children are being killed now."
The judge closed the hearing by saying she has a great deal to consider before ruling. She is scheduled to hand down the sentence on Thursday morning.
