An elderly Illinois man who was apprehended by law enforcement after allegedly attempting to commit homicide using a samurai sword has been sentenced to prison time.
Chicago resident Gerald Davis, 66, was arrested and taken into custody on March 12 after police responded to a noise complaint. Officers reportedly found a 61-year-old man propped up against a vehicle, bleeding from both of his hands after some of his fingers were cut off. Law enforcement applied tourniquets to his arms to reduce blood loss, reported CWB Chicago.
Some officers allegedly spotted Davis nearby, holding a samurai sword, which he reportedly discarded in attempting to evade officers. However, he was arrested and taken into custody.
According to prosecutors, Davis and the victim got into an argument, upon which he allegedly punched the victim in the face multiple times. Davis then reportedly produced the sword from his car and struck the victim, chasing after him and threatening to kill him.
The victim reportedly suffered permanent nerve damage. While his other fingers can be reattached, doctors were unable to save one of his thumbs.
Davis has a prolific criminal record, with prior convictions for attempted arson, battery and criminal sexual abuse. According to the state sex offender registry, Davis committed a sex crime against a 7-year-old when he was 42.
Davis' case was taken to a jury trial upon which he was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on Oct. 9. He has now been sentenced to 28 years in prison, and is scheduled to be paroled in December of 2047.
Originally published by Latin Times.
