Son accused of murdering mom, stepdad in Midfield

Midfield police have charged a suspect with the murder of his mother and her husband.

Raymond Davis, Jr., 31, is charged with the murder of his mother, 52-year-old Clarice Bailey and her husband, Timothy Bailey, 53. Midfield police announced the charges at a news conference held Wednesday afternoon.

The couple was found shot to death inside their home on Henson Street late Monday evening. Midfield police responded to the home around 11:30 p.m. and found the couple suffering from gunshot wounds. The coroner pronounced them dead at the scene.

Officials believe Davis and his sister went to the house because the Baileys were having a domestic dispute. Police say Davis and his sister may have tried to intervene in the dispute, and somehow during that process, detectives believe Davis shot the couple, firing five or six rounds.

According to the coroner's office, Clarice Bailey was shot in the face. Her husband Timothy Bailey was shot in the arms, chest and legs.

Investigators said today that they are looking into the possibility that Davis didn't mean to shoot his mother, but they don't yet know exactly why he allegedly pulled the trigger. A motive for the murder has not yet been determined.

Detectives say the shooting may have never happened if family members had called the police to try to stop the domestic dispute rather than getting involved themselves.

"Call the police. If you think there's a possibility of a domestic dispute between people, it's best for family members not to get involved. Call the police and let us investigate," Sgt. Jesse Bell with Midfield PD said.

Detectives are still interviewing family members and neighbors to try to figure out what happened. Neighbors say the brother and sister may have gotten to the house by taking a taxi, but those details are still being sorted out by investigators.

Davis turned himself in to Birmingham police at his grandmother's house a few hours after the shooting, between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4. He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail with no bond.

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