A Bronx, New York City father of four was fatally shot and his girlfriend severely beaten early Sunday, February 9, 2025, during a dispute over a blocked driveway, leading to the arrest of a man previously convicted of murder. The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. in the Morris Park section of the Bronx.
Trevor Hughes, 49, known professionally as DJ Dread, returned home from a late-night performance to find his paid parking spot blocked near his residence at 1735 Fowler Avenue. The father and grandfather, who balanced careers as a professional DJ and locksmith while serving as the neighborhood’s go-to handyman, had followed established protocols by contacting both 311 and the local police precinct about the illegally parked vehicle before the confrontation turned deadly.
“It was all over a parking space,” Hughes’ brother told The New York Post. “He took all the steps that you’re supposed to take when you want a car removed from blocking your driveway. A patrol car came, and all they had to do was ticket the vehicle. Ticket the vehicle, get it towed, and that’s it. All he wanted to do was get inside so he could get four hours of sleep. Then he had to be up again to DJ for a brunch.”
The suspect, Lavar Davis, 46, has a lengthy criminal history that spans multiple counties. After his arrest, prosecutors revealed that Davis had served more than 24 years in state prison for a murder in Schenectady before his release from Attica Correctional Facility in 2019. At Davis’ arraignment, Bronx Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Rozenblum detailed an additional concurrent sentence of 10 to 20 years for first-degree assault in Schenectady County. Davis remains on lifetime parole from these convictions.
The arrest presented significant challenges for law enforcement. After tracking Davis to his girlfriend’s apartment, officers encountered resistance when he barricaded himself inside and refused to surrender. Multiple attempts to persuade him to come out voluntarily were unsuccessful, leading authorities to call in the Emergency Services Unit. The specialized team was ultimately required to force entry and take Davis into custody, according to details revealed by Rozenblum during his arraignment.
Surveillance footage from multiple sources documented the fatal confrontation. One camera captured a man saying, “I don’t see the (expletive) driveway! I don’t see that,” despite clearly visible “No Parking” signs. The confrontation intensified rapidly. A man can be heard stating, “You wanna get it out? I’ll get the gun out for you,” before gunfire erupted.
According to neighbor Rose Marie, who witnessed the aftermath, the gunshots rang out in quick succession, leaving Hughes fatally wounded. During the chaos, Hughes’ girlfriend was viciously attacked, suffering severe injuries that left her bloodied and in need of emergency medical attention at the scene as paramedics rushed to provide care.
Another neighbor provided News 12 Bronx with a firsthand account of the tragedy: “I heard the gunshots right in front of his house. He came home. He DJs at night. He came home around 1:30 a.m. Somebody was in his driveway. You don’t do that.”
The parking spot at the center of the dispute was one Hughes paid a neighbor to use, but patrons from the nearby Absolutto nightclub reportedly blocked it. Residents have filed numerous complaints about the establishment, citing years of problems with blocked driveways, hazardous double parking, and late-night disturbances. Hughes’ brother explained that the parking problem was not an isolated incident but a widespread issue affecting the entire neighborhood.
After being shot in the torso, Emergency Medical Services rushed Hughes to Jacobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical staff. Neighbors in the Morris Park community remembered Hughes as a vital part of local life. His brother recalled how Hughes was always willing to help anyone in need, known for his constant smile and dedication to treating the community respectfully.
Originally from Tortola in the Caribbean, Hughes moved to the Bronx at age 18 and developed strong ties within the community. His willingness to assist neighbors with property maintenance, snow removal, and handyman work earned him widespread admiration. The National Latino Peace Officers Association honored him in a social media post, recognizing his exceptional talent and vibrant personality.
The shooting disrupted Hughes’s plans for a milestone celebration – a family trip back to Tortola scheduled for November to mark his 50th birthday, which would have reunited him with extended family and friends in his Caribbean homeland.
At the Bronx Criminal Court, Judge Harold Bahr reviewed Davis’s extensive criminal history and the circumstances of his arrest before ordering him to be held without bail. Davis’ defense attorney, Kenneth Kaufman, requested medical attention for his client but declined to make an immediate bail application. The suspect is scheduled to return to court this week to face the second-degree murder charge.
Hughes leaves behind four children, grandchildren, and a community struggling to comprehend the loss of one of its most beloved members.