Henry Foster said his younger brother, Leon Davis, was a man that everyone loved and wanted to be around.

At 3:20 a. m. Thursday morning, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies said Davis was inside his apartment at the Palisades Apartments in Brandon when two men forced their way inside. Inside the apartment with Davis were three of his 7 children, ranging in age from 1 to 7, and their mother.

Deputies said the children and their mother were sleeping when Davis was confronted and shot several times. Awakened by the gunfire, deputies said the woman call 9-1-1 after locking herself and the three children inside a bathroom.

The woman and children were not harmed, but Davis was dead when deputies arrived. He was 49-years-old.

Mr. Foster said no one in the family understands why this happened to a man everyone loved.

Mr. Foster said Leon Davis, the 4th oldest brother, graduated from Plant City High School where he wrestled and played football. He was described as a real sports fanatic.

“We really missed not having him around this past Father’s Day,” said Mr. Foster. “There are 6 boys among the 13 children, and the boys always traveled together. We had planned a trip to Valdosta, Georgia for the 4th of July.”

Mr. Foster said the family has drawn closer, and everyone is concerned about the welfare of the children.

“The older children between 26 and 29 are taking it pretty bad. I don’t think the younger children have felt it yet.”

Mr. Davis had worked for 15 years for a trucking company before moving on to work for Enterprise Car Rental. “He got disabled later, but he constantly stayed busy building things like dog houses and things for children,” said Mr. Foster.

“He was really a great builder, and treated his children like he was the mother. I gave him the nickname of Buckwheat.”

Mr. Foster said their mother passed away 2 years ago, and they all remembered spending a lot of time with her.

“We were all with her when she passed way from cancer. We were always a close family, but Leon and I got closer after our mother passed.”
Jerica Cohen describes her uncle as a person who was around a lot.

“He was everyone’s favorite uncle. He had no enemies, didn’t hang out, and was a generally good person. That’s why this makes no sense to us.”

No arrests have been made in Mr. Davis’s murder at this time.

Winslow Honors Funeral Chapel in Plant City is assisting the family with arrangements for a service.