On this day in 1966, Larry Davis, a name etched in New York City’s history for reasons as controversial as they are unforgettable, was born in the Bronx, New York. Known for a dramatic 1986 shootout with NYPD officers and his subsequent time on the run, Davis became a polarizing figure who symbolized, for some, the deep mistrust between marginalized communities and law enforcement during one of the city’s most turbulent eras.
Davis first drew national attention on November 19, 1986, when a team of NYPD officers attempted to arrest him at his sister’s apartment in the Bronx. A violent exchange erupted, leaving six officers wounded. Davis, just 20 years old at the time, managed to escape the scene, sparking one of the most intense manhunts in city history. For 17 days, Davis evaded capture before surrendering in front of news cameras, demanding media presence out of concern for his safety.
The case took a shocking turn when Davis and his legal team alleged that he had been working with rogue NYPD officers in the South Bronx in connection with drug operations, claims that struck a nerve in a city already rattled by police corruption scandals and an out-of-control crack epidemic. These allegations, coupled with his evasion of authorities, fueled public debate and made Davis a symbol of rebellion for some, and a dangerous outlaw to others.
At trial, Davis was acquitted of attempted murder and assault charges related to the shootout, with the jury citing self-defense in their decision. This stunning outcome drew both outrage and celebration across the five boroughs. However, he was later convicted on unrelated charges, including a murder conviction that led to a lengthy prison sentence.
Larry Davis was fatally stabbed at the age of 41 inside Shawangunk Correctional Facility in 2008. His death closed the chapter on a life that remains, to this day, both controversial and emblematic of an era where crime, corruption, and distrust clashed violently in New York’s inner-city streets.
On what would have been his 58th birthday, Larry Davis remains a lightning rod in conversations about justice, policing, and survival in 1980s New York, a city still grappling with its past.