Authorities investigating shooting death of beloved village worker in Washington Park

A beloved village employee was found shot to death Thursday on the front porch of a residence in the 1100 block of North 49th Street in Washington Park.

Alphonso Davis, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9 a.m., said St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Davis’ last known address was the 1200 block of North 49th Street, Washington Park.

Police were actively working the shooting most of the morning Thursday. No suspects have been identified nor has a motive been established, authorities said. No other details were immediately available.

Davis worked in the village’s street department, and his death left many stunned and saddened.

Debbie Moore, a village trustee, said her “heart is heavy.”

“Alphonso was a different kind of kid,” she said. “There was something different about him. Every day that he saw me he told me how much he appreciated us for giving him a chance and he always said, ‘Miss Moore, you gave me a job.’

“Something about him captured me. This has devastated me to see him laying out like that.”

Moore said she remembers him saying nobody else gave him a chance, and he appreciated that the village gave him a job.

“He was a lovable child,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Moore said she prays police will find the person who took his life.

“The world was a better place with him in it,” she said.

Davis last clocked out of his job with the village at 3:55 p.m. March 1.

“That will be a forever memory for me,” Moore said.

Mayor Leonard Moore said “Phonso” was a beloved figure. He said repeatedly that he was a “very good man” and an outstanding worker.

“Everybody loved him. He was a comedian,” he said. “ I went out with him several times while he was patching streets. He would have the whole eight-hour shift laughing. He was a fun-loving person.”

Moore said he was with Davis when he clocked out Wednesday. The mayor told Davis he was going to be on the trash route the next day and “he told me he would be there.”

“If he gave you his word, you could stand on it,” said Moore. “He stood by his word.”

Moore said he got to the office at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and the trash truck was still there.

“I knew it should have been gone about 6 a.m. I asked the driver where Phonso was. He said he was waiting for him,” Moore said.

The superintendent of the street department called Davis’ home and got no answer.

“About five minutes later, I heard a call come through saying a man was down. It never crossed my mind that it was him,” Moore said.

He said there is no way to imagine who could have shot Davis.

“How did this happen to a man who was always willing to do whatever he could to make someone’s life brighter? How?,” Moore said.

Moore first heard Davis had been shot when he arrived at the scene. He said one of the police officers asked if the village had a worker named Alphonso.

“I said yes. The officer said somebody just shot him. It was him. He was down,” a dejected Moore said. “This is very disturbing to me. I had so many things to do today. But, after I saw it was him, it took everything out of me. I could not do anything, but wonder who did this and why.

“I just want to know who did this to him and how could they do it? Phonso wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

All of the village employees are distraught over their co-worker’s death, he added.

“They are taking it very hard,” Moore said.

The mayor said he wants anyone who may know something about this situation to help the police capture the person who killed Davis.

Davis’ family has established a Gofundme account seeking contributions to help defray funeral costs and for his children.

The accounts states Davis was “an awesome father, son, and brother. Anytime he graced you with his presence, you were sure to laugh, he was the life of the party and he protected the people he loved, he truly loved his children and his family is truly devasted losing him, he will be truly missed.”

This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 7:43 PM.