Antwan Davis' killer sentenced to 25 years

Michael Arthur Anderson, the 17-year-old who shot and killed 15-year-old Ocoee resident Antwan Davis in March, last week received the minimum sentence for the murder.

After pleading guilty in a hearing held July 12, Anderson was charged as an adult and sentenced to 25 years. Anderson’s girlfriend, Lindsey Shirley, 18, was also arrested and will be on trial for being an accomplice by tampering with evidence.

Although Anderson will be 42 when he is released, Antwan’s family members said they are not satisfied with the outcome.

“It feels like he’s just getting a slap on the wrist, and he’s going to still be able to one day make a life for himself if he makes it out of there in 25 years,” said Antwan’s aunt, Marilyn Margaret Calhoun. “It feels like we’ve been cheated, like we only got a halfway shot at justice, and it doesn’t feel fair.”

The sentence guidelines for second-degree murder ranges from 25 years to life, with the minimum being 25 years. Calhoun went before the judge during the plea hearing.

“It didn’t make a difference,” Calhoun said. “We all feel like he’s getting away with this, and he’s going to be out and allowed to move on with his life, when Antwan is not.”

After the hearing, Calhoun said she did not detect any sign of remorse from Anderson. 

“It didn’t seem like this was a big deal to him,” Calhoun said. “He didn’t look like someone who was scared to lose the next 25 years of their life, or somebody who feels bad they took somebody’s else’s life.”

Despite the disappointment the sentencing brings the Davis family, they will always remember him as a funny kid who was liked by everyone.

“He was getting excited about being able to drive,” Calhoun said. “He was funny, and he liked to joke around and (tease) people. He was just a kid that kind of got mixed up with the wrong crowd.”

---

Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected]