Shooter pleads guilty in slaying of Palo Verde High School student

Gerald Davison pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and attempted murder for the 2008 drive-by shooting.

Davison, a sophomore at Palo Verde, opened fire near the school as students were walking home from class, authorities said.

The shooting shocked teachers and students as well as people who lived and worked in the area.

During a short hearing in District Court, Davison confessed to firing the fatal round that killed 15-year-old Privett.

“We were driving down Alta Avenue when I was handed a firearm and I discharged it out of a window,” he told District Judge Stefany Miley.

Davison has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the Feb. 15, 2008 shooting. He appeared in court dressed in a navy blue prison uniform and used a microphone to help amplify his voice.

Davison told the judge he intended to kill Privett during the drive-by shooting but provided few details about the motive for the killing.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped several charges against him.

Davison was facing murder, attempted murder, assault, battery charges and other charges. Many counts included gang enhancements, meaning he would have faces stiffer penalties if a jury found the crimes were committed to further gang activity.

As part of the plea, Davison agreed to spend life in prison. He’ll be eligible for parole in 28 years, when he’s about 45.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 12.

“I think it’s a fair resolution,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Giancarlo Pesci. “He’s pleaded guilty to the top charges.”

Prosecutors said Privett’s family agreed to the plea agreement.

Privett was an honor student at Palo Verde. He also played center for the school’s freshman football team and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Born in Idaho, Privett moved to Las Vegas with his family when he was in the second grade.

Privett and three friends were walking home on the day of the shooting when a companion flashed a gang sign at a vehicle carrying Davison and several others, authorities said.

A passenger in the car responded by throwing gang signs back.

The exchange is believed to have started a conflict between the two groups and led to the shooting.

Davison and his co-defendant, Ezekiel Williams, are members of Squad Up, a local hybrid gang, authorities said.

Privett was not in a gang.

Williams, 19, last week pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon and accessory to murder. He admitted driving the car during the shooting and handing Davison the murder weapon moments before the shooting.

Williams, a 2007 graduate of Cimarron-Memorial High School, agreed to spend eight to 20 years in prison.

Kent Kozal, an attorney representing Davison, said Wednesday that his client accepted responsibility for the shooting.

“He’s a 17-year-old boy,” Kozal said. “It took him a long time to understand the ramifications of what occurred.”

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.