Jerad Davis

Jamestown has added another homicide to its 2024 tally – albeit quietly.

The 2024 Public Safety annual report compiled by the city police and fire chiefs, and posted recently on the city’s website, states what was once thought to be a fatal overdose has now been classified as a homicide that is under investigation by the Jamestown Police Department.

On May 2, 2024, Jamestown police officers responded to a possible overdose at 442 Buffalo St. A person at the scene said a person in the home had been using drugs during the day and then was found later in the day unresponsive in the home. Jerad Davis was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Further investigation showed Davis had allegedly been severely assaulted a short time before his death, and the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Davis’ death a homicide as a result of one or numerous assaults.

“The Chautauqua County Coroner’s Office found some questionable bruising and injuries to Davis’ body and requested a criminal investigation into the matter,” the report states. “The Jamestown Police Department’s Detective Bureau, along with the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, have been working on this case as new information and evidence continues to come to light.”

Davis was 44 when he died, according to his obituary. He enjoyed bonfires and camping on the weekends with his children as well as fishing with family and friends, cooking and riding in the car and listening to older music. He is survived by eight children, a brother, two sisters, his mother, stepfather and his grandmother.

Davis’ homicide adds to what was already a difficult year in Jamestown. The city’s four 2024 murders are the most the city has had over the past five years.

“The year of 2024 saw an increase in violent crime by 6.69% compared to 2023,” Tim Jackson, city police chief and public safety director, wrote in his memorandum to open the 2024 Public Safety annual report. “This year, the Jamestown Police Department investigated seven homicides. The number of shooting investigations have also increased compared to last year. Despite an increase in violent crime, the number of calls for service the department has responded to has also decreased by nearly 10%.”