Killer gets 50 years for shooting tourist who shielded infant

Tamarius Davis will spend the next half-decade in a Florida state prison following a Thursday sentencing. The 27-year-old man was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2021 death of a young visitor on South Beach.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Laura Stuzin announced the sentence after hearing emotional testimony from the victim’s relatives. She described the matter as one of the most difficult decisions she would face. Stuzin stated she aimed to punish Davis while preserving a small amount of hope for the defendant.

The court imposed 50 years in state prison on the primary count, requiring a 25-year minimum mandatory term. This is followed by 20 years of probation. Additional terms include 30 years on a second count and five years on a third count, with all sentences running concurrently. Davis will also serve 25 years of probation after his prison term.

State prosecutors had requested a life sentence. Defense attorneys had argued for a maximum of 25 years. The judge’s ruling split the difference between the two positions.

Davis approached Dustin Wakefield, his wife, and their infant son during a lunch break in 2021. He pointed a gun at the baby, causing Wakefield to step in front of the weapon. Davis fired five shots, killing the 21-year-old.

Davis’s attorney is scheduled to address the media later on Thursday.