Bio

David Ivy was born on January 15, 1972. He was also known by the nickname “Day Day.” Before the murder of LaKisha Thomas, Ivy had already been convicted of serious violent crimes. Tennessee court records state that he had prior convictions that were later used as aggravating evidence during the penalty phase of his capital trial. He had also been placed on parole in June 2000, with parole scheduled to continue until 2020.

After his release on parole, Ivy began a relationship with LaKisha Thomas. Their relationship lasted for about one year and was marked by repeated violence, threats, and fear. Several witnesses later testified that Ivy had physically abused Thomas and that she was trying to end the relationship.

Court records show that Thomas had told family members, store employees, and police officers that she was afraid Ivy would kill her. In the days before her death, she reported that Ivy had assaulted her with a pistol and threatened to kill her if she involved the police.

On June 6, 2001, two days before the murder, Thomas reported an assault to Memphis police. She told officers that Ivy had attacked her with a black Uzi-type pistol. She had visible injuries, including a laceration to her head, bruising near her chest, and a black eye. A warrant charging Ivy with aggravated assault was issued the next day, but it was not served before Thomas was killed.

Murder Story

On June 6, 2001, LaKisha Thomas reported to Memphis police that David Ivy had assaulted her. She said he struck her with a firearm and threatened to come back and kill her. Officers saw injuries on her body and photographed them. Thomas later sought legal protection and continued trying to help authorities locate Ivy.

That same day, Thomas and her relatives went to the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center to pursue charges. During the trip, Thomas believed Ivy was following them. At a liquor store, witnesses saw Ivy confront her. He reportedly warned her that the situation was not over and threatened her for involving the police. Witnesses described Thomas as frightened, shaking, and crying.

On the morning of June 8, 2001, Thomas was outside an apartment complex in Memphis. She was seated in the front passenger seat of a car. Her relatives were nearby, and others were preparing to leave. A man approached the car wearing a black hat and covering part of his face with a towel. Witnesses identified him as David Ivy. According to trial testimony, Ivy pulled the towel away from his face, smiled, and said, “Oh, bitch, you want me dead, huh?” He then opened fire into the car.

Thomas was shot multiple times at close range. The medical examiner later found five entrance wounds on the right side of her body, along with other wounds caused by bullets passing through and re-entering. Two bullets damaged her heart. Other bullets damaged her lungs, spine, intestines, pancreas, liver, kidney, uterus, and other organs. The medical examiner concluded that she died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Witnesses immediately identified Ivy as the shooter. Some also saw a white vehicle leave the apartment complex quickly after the shooting. Police collected shell casings, bullet fragments, and live rounds from the scene. Forensic evidence showed that the weapon was consistent with a semi-automatic 9mm firearm.

Ivy was arrested on June 27, 2001, in Tipton County, Tennessee, and was returned to Memphis. While awaiting trial, he escaped from the Shelby County Jail on May 16, 2002. He was later located in San Diego, California, and returned to Tennessee.

At trial, the jury found Ivy guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. During the sentencing phase, the jury found two aggravating circumstances: that Ivy had prior violent felony convictions and that he killed Thomas to avoid, interfere with, or prevent lawful arrest or prosecution. The jury found that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating evidence and sentenced him to death.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and death sentence in 2004. The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the judgment on February 28, 2006. Later post-conviction and sentence challenges were also denied. David Ivy remains on Tennessee death row for the murder of LaKisha Thomas.