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Man Jailed In Polk Arson Now Charged In Clerks' Slayings

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY

Published: December 26, 2007

Leon Davis Jr., accused of killing four people in two separate incidents and shooting another, was formally charged today in the shooting deaths of two gas station workers in Lake Alfred.

Leon Davis Jr.

Authorities said Davis, 30, shot and killed Indian immigrants Pravinkumar Patel and Dasharathbhai Patel execution-style during an attempted robbery at the gas station Dec. 7.

Davis was charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder, attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Autopsies show that the gas station workers suffered gunshot wounds to the head and died at the scene, according to an affidavit. Before the fatal shooting, Davis walked toward the BP gas station store at 6000 State Road 557 but could not open the locked door, the affidavit states.

Davis fired a shot through the glass, nearly hitting the cashier who had dived to the floor behind the cash register counter. The two store clerks had been changing the gas price sign when Davis went toward them, the affidavit states. Video shows the men with their hands up. Davis shot them both in the head, the affidavit states.

Surveillance video captured some of the events.

Davis also is accused of trying to rob an insurance office on Dec. 13 in Lake Wales and setting two women on fire. One of them later died. The other woman was pregnant, and her child died after being delivered prematurely, authorities said. Another man was shot in the nose.

Davis turned himself in after the Lake Wales incident, the affidavit states.

Initially, Davis was charged with attempted murder and arson. Charges will be upgraded to murder, according to Lake Wales police. Other charges will be sorted out with the state attorney's office, Polk County Sheriff's Office and Lake Wales police.

The bullet casings recovered at the gas station matched a slug recovered at the insurance office, the affidavit states. They were from a Dan Wesson revolver. A search of Davis' home and car in Winter Haven uncovered dark-colored pants with zippers on the legs, black gloves, a gray, hooded sweatshirt and jacket, and an empty pack of Newport cigarettes.

The clothing was captured on video and a Newport cigarette was recovered after the gas station shootings, according to the affidavit. Leon, according to the affidavit, is a five-time convicted felon in Florida.

Davis has a court appearance Thursday.

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