Birmingham brothers accused of shooting woman ‘like a dog’ for allegedly beating their mother

Two Birmingham brothers will remain in custody after a judge determined that the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old woman was likely an act of retaliation stemming from an assault on the suspects' mother.

Marquis Antwon Graham, 24, and Nikolas Isaiah Graham, 27, are facing murder charges for the death of Tampril Lashae Davis, who was killed this past Saturday.

A Violent History

The roots of the confrontation trace back to last month, when Davis and her aunt, Letha Hayes, were arrested for second-degree assault. Charging documents detail an attack on the Grahams' 50-year-old mother, during which the suspects allegedly struck her in the face and head with a glass bottle or vase. While social media reports suggested the mother fell into a coma, police could not confirm that status but did acknowledge she sustained severe injuries.

The Aniah’s Law Hearing

During an hour-long Aniah’s Law hearing on Thursday before Jefferson County Judge Michael Streety, prosecutors presented testimony indicating that Marquis Graham fired the shots that ended Davis's life. Investigators further alleged that Nikolas Graham drove his brother to the scene while armed, waiting nearby to support him during the encounter.

The defense teams argued for bond, citing self-defense claims and emphasizing that the incident was isolated between two families rather than a random act of violence. However, Judge Streety was firm in his decision to keep both defendants jailed, noting the retaliatory nature of the crime. "There’s no accommodation or conditions to ensure the community will be protected from this type of behavior," Streety stated.

The Scene on Snavely Avenue

Police arrived at the 2400 block of Snavely Avenue at 7:35 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of gunfire. Birmingham homicide Detective Abanellys Perez testified that officers, who were already in the vicinity, discovered Davis critically wounded in a front yard. She was transported to UAB Hospital and pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m.

Officers found both Graham brothers on the scene. According to testimony, a gun recovered from Marquis Graham smelled of fresh discharge. Witnesses reported that after the initial shooting, the gunman stood over Davis and fired again, with one bystander describing the scene by stating, "That man killed that girl like a dog."

While both brothers claimed in interviews that Davis retrieved a gun from her vehicle, police noted that a weapon found near the victim showed no signs of recent use. As Judge Streety concluded the hearing, he rejected attempts to separate the shooting from the earlier assault on the brothers' mother, telling defense counsel, "You’re trying to get me to get rid of my common sense."