Dashawn Revels Homicide Trial Starts Tuesday

Testimony will begin tomorrow in in the case of a 22-year-old man accused of shooting and killing a New London resident over two years ago.

Dashawn James Revels, of 829 Hicks Street in Brooklyn, N.Y., is charged with murder and carrying a pistol without a permit. The charges are related to the March 31, 2009 homicide of 20-year-old Bryan Davila.

According to an affidavit by Detective Matthew Galante of the , police responded to a report of shots fired near the intersection of State Pier Road and Crystal Ave. as well as a 911 call from a man who said he had been shot on State Pier Road. They found Davila lying in the parking lot of with a handgun close to his right hand. Davila, who had been shot several times, was taken to but later died of his wounds.

Seven men were reportedly seen running toward Water Street after the shooting, and police began looking for a suspect described by a witness. An off-duty police officer who heard the radio traffic followed a possible suspect, who was later stopped by an on-duty officer on Hempstead Street. While questioning this man, the officer saw Revels walking on Manwaring Street and noticed that he fit the description of the shooter.

Revels was detained, and the witness identified him after he was brought to the scene. Revels initially denied being in the area, but was interviewed again after police obtained surveillance footage showing that Revels a group of men left the high rise apartments on Crystal Ave. shortly before the shooting. Galante said Revels then confessed to the shooting, saying Davila was arguing with the people he was with and that the argument continued when they left the building. Revels said he shot at Davila after he drew a gun and fired first. Revels said he then fled the scene and threw the gun away in a Huntington Street park. The weapon was not found.

The case will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant State's Attorney David Smith. Bruce Sturman is the attorney representing Revels.