Kwamane G. Davis of Cumberland County will spend five years in prison for the September, 2010 slaying of Dwayne Richard Hardy of Goochland.

Davis, 22, shot Hardy after seeing his cousin Alvin Daniels shot in the back three times at a late night party more than a year ago in western Goochland County.
In retaliation, he picked up a shotgun and pursued the shooter, Hardy, killing him with a shot to the back of the head.

Davis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Oct. 26, when he was originally scheduled for trial on a second degree murder charge before a plea agreement was reached.

Tuesday Goochland Circuit Court Judge Timothy K. Sanner sentenced Davis to 10 years with five suspended after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defense.

“The law does not allow vigilante justice,” said Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes, who called for a sentence of five to 10 years in prison for Davis.

But Defense attorney Michael S. Davis said if a law enforcement officer had acted as his client did at the scene he would have been praised and placed blame for the shootings on Hardy.
“Were it not for Mr. Hardy’s actions none of this would have taken place,” said Davis, who asked for probation for his client.

The violence that led to Hardy’s death stemmed from a late night party in the 3600 block of Hadensville-Fife Road on Sept. 12, 2010 when an argument between two members of rival groups escalated.

Sanner rejecting the comparison of Davis’s action with that of a law enforcement officer, lamented the gang problem that led to the shootings.

Stokes said he was satisfied with the sentence.
“You can’t take justice into your own hands,” he said.

Davis, a former police officer for nine years, said he had hoped for more leniency in the sentence.