Kristine Guerra

kristine.guerra@indystar.com

People who closely know the man accused of fatally shooting an Indianapolis police officer say they were stunned by the turn of events.

They wonder what triggered the gunbattle late Saturday night in an Eastside alley. They wonder if the children of Major Davis Jr., who was critically injured in the exchange of gunfire, will grow up without a father, as Davis himself did. But they also know that officer Perry Renn, who was killed, was only doing his job.

They said the 25-year-old Davis was not a violent man.

"What happened back there, it just wasn't him," said Yvonne Moorman, aunt of Davis' fiancee. "I'm not trying to uphold him because I know it was wrong what he did."

Police said Davis was brandishing an assault rifle when Renn and another officer confronted him at 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue before 10 p.m. Officials said an "obviously upset" Davis refused orders from police to put the gun down. A gunbattle ensued and lasted three to five minutes. Renn died shortly after arriving at Eskenazi Hospital. Davis survived surgery. A likely murder charge awaits him.

Pam Moorman, mother of Davis' fiancee, said no one in the family has been allowed to see Davis at the hospital. She said police had told them he remains on life support in the intensive care unit.

"I already know he'll probably never get to come back home," Pam Moorman said. "We already lost him."

But while they mourn for their loss, both women said they also are hurting for Renn's family.

"That man has a family too, and they'll never see him again," Pam Moorman said. "He was just doing his job. He didn't come here looking for trouble. He got a call, and he did his job. I have to respect that."

Yvonne Moorman echoed the sentiments of her sister.

"He took a chance with Major," Yvonne Moorman said. "He gave him the benefit of the doubt, and he lost his life. They asked Major to put the gun down. That to me was giving him the benefit of the doubt."

Yvonne Moorman said she didn't see what happened. She said the family was having a get-together that night. She was inside the house, setting food on the table when she heard gunshots.

"Everybody scattered around and ran inside the house," she said. "Everybody just hit the floor. I had no idea it was (Major) out there."

Pam Moorman said she was outside the house when the shooting happened. She declined to talk about the incident. Davis' four kids — who are between the ages of 2 and 10 — have started asking questions about their father and when they will see him.

"They know something ain't right," Pam Moorman said. "This is just a big old mess."

She said she worries for Davis' daughter and three sons, who likely will have to live without their father, as Davis did without his.

Major Davis Sr. died in 2003 while he was in police custody. Autopsy reports, which were questioned by Davis' family, concluded that he had suffered a heart attack and that his "physical exertion" as he resisted arrest contributed to his distress. Major Davis Jr. turned 14 the next day.

Both father and son have had run-ins with the law. The older Davis spent at least three years in prison on a drug conviction.

Davis Jr. had one misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana. He does not have any felonies.

"I've never known him to be violent in any kind of way," Yvonne Moorman said. "Major was overall a good guy. He was a good dad."

After his father died in 2003, he took on the role of being the man of the house, Yvonne Moorman said. She and Pam Moorman had known Davis for more than 10 years. Davis and Pam Moorman's daughter have been together since they were 13 and 14.

Pam Moorman said she hasn't slept well since Saturday night. Davis and Renn are both in her mind.

Star reporters Jill Disis and Justin Mack and Star researcher Cathy Knapp contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra.