The tragic death of Tatiana David, a beloved military veteran and mother who was kidnapped on her 34th birthday and killed after a police chase and shootout along Interstate 95, has left her family and community devastated.
According to WTVR, David was taken from her home at gunpoint by Michael Davis, 34, the father of her four-year-old son, on Wednesday morning. During a traffic stop on I-95 in northern Virginia around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, troopers said Davis drove off and eventually crashed in the woods near Quantico.
Officials with Virginia State Police said Davis opened fire on troopers and that they returned fire. He was struck and taken to the hospital. David also suffered a gunshot wound and died at the scene.
“David was located deceased outside the vehicle at the crash location with an apparent gunshot wound. Her cause of death is pending investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for later today,” Virginia State Police said.
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Emanuel Espada, David’s brother, described her as a bright light and a beacon of hope, who did nothing but good in life. “She was a military veteran, a mother, she served her country [and] did nothing but good in life,” Espada said. “She was an amazing person. Everyone who came across her loved her.”
“She was a bright light and a beacon of hope. Now she has her life taken from her for what?” he added.
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David’s tragic death is a reminder of the ongoing issue of domestic violence in our society, and the need for better support and resources for victims. More than 40% of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, according to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research’s Status of Black Women in the United States.
As investigations into the incident continue, friends and family are grieving and honoring David’s memory.
