PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A Volusia County judge denied bond for the man accused of killing his girlfriend and mother of two children.
The suspect, 35-year-old Jamal Kareem Davis, had his first appearance in Volusia County on Sunday morning.
The Port Orange Police Department said that at 1:13 a.m. Saturday officers responded to an apartment on Victoria Gardens Boulevard in reference to a homicide.
Justine Clawson, 24, was found dead at 1:27 a.m. Her death is believed to be the result of gunshot wounds, police said.
On Friday at 11:30 p.m., Ormond Beach police responded a vehicle crash. The driver, Davis, told first responders that he left two children, a 1 year-old and a 2-year-old, at an unknown shopping center in Ormond Beach.
Police found the children a short time later on Nova Road. Police then tried to contact the mother of the children, Clawson, but were unable to.
Officers then made contact with her father, who told police he would pick up Clawson and take her to pick up the kids.
The father found his daughter, Clawson, dead in the apartment.
The children are in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.
Detectives interviewed Davis, who told them that he was arguing with Clawson over their relationship and child custody issues. Davis told officers that the argument became physical, at which point Davis pulled out a 9 mm handgun and shot Clawson at least two times. Davis then drove his vehicle into a tree to try to commit suicide.
Davis was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail.
He is charged with two counts of neglect on a child and first-degree murder.
"We're going to hold you without any bond because of the nature of the offenses. Do you understand that, sir?" the judge asked.
"I understand, sir," Davis said.
Pictures on Clawson's Facebook page show the couple smiling, kissing and enjoying family time at the beach. Both Clawson and Davis said they were engaged on their social media accounts.
A friend posted on one of Clawson's photos that Davis "took away such a beautiful soul."
If anyone has any further information regarding this case, you’re asked to contact Detective Bingham at 386-506-5895 or cbingham@port-orange.org.