In a Houston apartment on June 30, 2021, a 10-year-old girl endured an unimaginable nightmare, witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, Gregory Carhee, 35, and Donyavia Lagway, 29, along with her 6-year-old sister, Harmony Carhee. Shot in the arm, the young girl played dead, lying still as the killer ransacked her home. Her quick thinking and courage saved her life and that of her 2-year-old brother, whom she protected until help arrived. On April 17, 2025, the man responsible, Xavier Davis, 32, was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to the heinous crimes that shattered a family and stunned a community.
The tragedy unfolded at the Totoro Place Apartments in southwest Houston. Davis, armed with a silver Smith & Wesson revolver and dressed in black, forced his way into the family’s home. In a calculated act, he executed Carhee and Lagway in front of their children, shooting each in the head. He then turned his weapon on the two young girls. Harmony, just 6 years old, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Her 10-year-old sister, despite being critically wounded, survived by pretending to be dead. As Davis searched the apartment for money and jewelry, he made a chilling FaceTime call to show the aftermath to his alleged accomplice. The couple’s 2-year-old son was spared, though Davis violently threw the toddler across the room. An 8-year-old son was not home at the time, escaping the horror.
The surviving daughter’s bravery extended beyond her survival. After Davis fled, she locked the apartment door, gathered her baby brother, and called her grandmother for help. Her actions ensured their safety and alerted authorities, who later discovered through an autopsy that Lagway was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of her death, compounding the tragedy.
Davis was arrested days later, on July 6, 2021, following an anonymous tip. Evidence quickly mounted against him. Police found a cell phone registered to his mother near a torched getaway car he had carjacked at gunpoint an hour before the murders. The phone contained photos of Davis, and geolocation data placed him at the crime scene. At the time of his arrest, authorities recovered $3,000 in cash and two hollow-point bullets matching those used in the killings. Davis faced three counts of capital murder, one count of aggravated assault, and an additional charge of aggravated robbery for the carjacking.
Investigators soon uncovered a deeper motive behind the killings. Davis, prosecutors alleged, was hired by Alexus Williams, 29, a childhood friend who had a prior romantic relationship with Lagway. Williams, reportedly enraged after Lagway ended their relationship to reconcile with her husband, orchestrated the attack. She allegedly lured Davis with the promise of cash in the apartment, communicating with him via FaceTime during the murders and possibly witnessing the carnage in real time. Williams was arrested in March 2022 and charged with three counts of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Her trial is scheduled for May 2025.
Davis’s trial began on March 24, 2025, but in a surprising move, he pleaded guilty to capital murder just before opening statements. The jury’s focus shifted to sentencing, weighing life without parole against the death penalty. Prosecutors emphasized the brutality of the killings, Davis’s criminal history—including a prior conviction for aggravated robbery—and his behavior in jail. Defense attorneys highlighted his abusive childhood, arguing it mitigated his actions. After weeks of testimony, including the powerful account of the surviving 10-year-old, the jury unanimously sentenced Davis to death.
The case has left a lasting impact on Houston, with the surviving children now under the care of relatives. Community members have rallied to support them, hosting benefits and fundraisers. As the legal process continues with Williams’s upcoming trial, the resilience of the young survivor stands as a testament to the human spirit amid unimaginable loss. The pursuit of justice, however, offers little solace for a family forever altered by greed and vengeance.