A Houston man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after killing a hardworking mother during a robbery at a gas station.
A Harris County judge handed Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis, 24, a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the shooting death of 32-year-old Donna Peña. Though Cox-Davis was initially facing life in prison if convicted by a jury, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder instead.
“This defendant had no regard for anyone else when he used a gun to rob and steal, and now the victim’s family will never again see this hardworking and beloved woman. This agreement ensures that the defendant will spend decades in prison with no appeals,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On March 8, 2019, officers responded to a Shell gas station on FM 1960 and Perry Road after reports of a shooting and a homicide. Soon, investigators collected evidence, which included the gas station’s surveillance that showed Cox-Davis shooting the victim while wearing a blue hoodie. Later, authorities found the hoodie at a housing subdivision behind the gas station, which resulted in investigators linking the defendant to the crime from the DNA sample on it.
At the time of the robbery, authorities believed Cox-Davis and his accomplice were part of a crew involved in a string of robberies.
In 2020, officers arrested the defendant during a routine traffic stop where he was arrested.
“He gave this woman about two seconds to open the cash register before he opened fire, killing her. It is just an awful case, and this was the right decision for the victim’s family who want to put this ordeal behind them so they can mourn in peace,” said Assistant District Attorney Chandler Raine, reported Houston Daily.
Cox-Davis will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.
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