DC man arrested in hammer attack case is younger brother of NFL's Davis brothers
WASHINGTON - The younger brother of NFL players Vernon and Vontae Davis is accused of hitting a woman in the head with a hammer and police are investigating if the assault is linked to other attacks in the area, including the slaying of a man visiting from Colorado.
Michael Davis, who was arrested after a foot chase Thursday night, has been charged with a count of aggravated assault, police said. He is expected in D.C. Superior Court on Saturday.
Carolyn Mardis, a lawyer who has represented Michael Davis's father in the past, confirmed that Michael Davis is the brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and Miami Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis. Vernon and Vontae Davis also grew up in Washington, where they played high school football.
Mardis is not representing Michael Davis. It was not immediately clear Friday if he had an attorney.
Michael Davis was arrested Thursday night after police officers responded to a woman's cries for help. They found him in a nearby alley and during the foot chase, he dropped a backpack that contained a claw hammer that's believed to be the weapon used in the attack, police said.
The 19-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, has a serious injury and remains in the hospital, police said.
Police were investigating Friday whether the assault and three other recent attacks were related. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the four assaults were sudden and unprovoked, with no apparent motive and involved victims who were walking alone in a small radius in the Petworth neighbourhood of northwest Washington.
On Tuesday evening, the tourist from Colorado — Gary Dederichs, 66 — was killed. Two other victims — a 53-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, both from Washington — were seriously injured in attacks. Investigators believe all three victims, along with the 19-year-old woman attacked Thursday night, were hit on the head with a blunt object.
