Gang member sentenced to life, plus

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A leader of the notorious "Dump Squad" street gang in Newport News was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison, plus 35 years in connection with two murders.

Edward Davis, 25, also known as "Cabbage" was sentenced in Norfolk Federal Court.  Davis pleaded guilty to the shooting death of Terrell Williams in Newport News in 2006, as well as the strangulation death of Tiarra Campbell in 2007.

According to a spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice, the murder of Williams occurred during a drug robbery.

Campbell was killed after she made it known she was tired of living in fear in her own neighborhood.  She was planning to help police rid the neighborhood of the Dump Squad. Davis confessed that's why he killed her.

Campbell's sister, who is now raising Campbell's 5-year-old son, testified in tears Tuesday.  She said, "Tiarra's son doesn't remember his mom. He looks just like her and it makes me sad he doesn't have his mom."

Newport News Police Chief James Fox told WAVY.com his officers worked with the FBI, the State Police and Hampton Police on this case.  "We put a team together that was committed to doing away with this Dump Squad and now that we've been able to do it, it's a safer neighborhood for people to live in and we've seen the decrease in crime since these persons have been arrested.  This was a group of individuals that were terrorizing that neighborhood. They were bullying people around, people were scared to death of them."

Chief Fox said crime in the neighborhoods where the Dump Squad operated has now dropped by 44 percent.

U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride told WAVY.com, "Edward Davis will spend the rest of his life behind bars to pay for the terror he and his gang raged on Newport News."

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Alex Turner, added, "We hope this investigation sends a message that violence associated with criminal enterprises and led by persons such as Edward will not be tolerated."

After the sentencing hearing, Edward was hauled back to prison where he will spend the rest of his life.  Several other members of the Dump Squad have already been sent to prison.