for BigTrial.net
Three weeks before he allegedly murdered a dog walker in Brewerytown, Davis L. Josephus, 20, a twice convicted felon, was in jail after he'd been arrested for an allegted carjacking.
But on Dec. 23, 2020, Josephus's bail for the carjacking case was reduced from $100,000 to $20,000. On Dec. 29, 2020, Josephus only had to post $2,000 to get out of jail.
Just 15 days later, on Jan. 13th, 25-year-old Milan Loncar was walking his dog Roo around 7 p.m. at 31st and Jefferson Streets, a block from his home in Brewerytown when Josephus and another suspect held him up.
Josephus, according to police sources, allegedly stood in front of Loncar; the other suspect stood behind him as they went through the victim's pockets.
Then, Josephus allegedly put a gun to Loncar's chest and pulled the trigger. Loncar, a recent Temple University graduate, was mortally wounded. He sat down on the ground, took out his cell phone and appears to have tried to summon help. Then he stood up, staggered backward, and collapsed supine on the ground while Roo, his pet dog who was a mix of dachshund and chihuahua, ran to Loncar's side, and wouldn't leave.
Loncar was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Temple University Hospital.
Josephus should have never been out on the street.
The accused murderer has quite a rap sheet.
On March 25, 2015, at age 14, he was arrested as a juvenile and charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and simple assault. He was found to be an adjudicated delinquent, the equivalent of being found guilty, of simple assault.
On Jan. 9, 2019, when he was 18, Josephus was arrested and charged with robbery with threat to inflict immediate bodily injury, and conspiracy, two second-degree felonies. His bail was set at $20,000 monetary, meaning he had to post $2,000 to get out of jail.
On May 29, 2019, both charges were dismissed for a lack of prosecution. On Aug. 6, 2019, the charges were refiled by the D.A.'s office. On Sept. 5, 2019, his bail was revoked and forfeited.
On Oct. 2, 2019, Josephus entered a negotiated guilty plea to robbery and conspiracy, two third-degree felonies, and was sentenced to six to 12 months in jail and two years probation.
On Oct. 3, 2019, his bail of $20,000 monetary was reinstated.
On Jan. 29, 2020, Josephus entered a guilty plea to robbery and conspiracy, two third-degree felony charges, and stemming from an Oct. 2, 2019 arrest. He was given six to 12 months in jail and two years probation, a sentence that was to be served concurrent with the same sentence from his earlier robbery conviction.
The very next month, on Feb. 19, 2020, Josephus was arrested and hit with 11 charges, including robbery with intent to inflict serious bodily injury, robbery of a motor vehicle, kidnapping for ransom, conspiracy, false imprisonment, firearms not to be carried with out a license, carrying firearms in public, theft, receiving stolen property, possession of an instrument of crime, and unauthorized use of motor vehicles. The carjacking arrest violated Josephus's parole on the two robberies convictions. Had the District Attorney's office lodged what's known as a detainer, Josephus would have had to stay in jail without bail until a judge held a hearing on the probation violation.
But the D.A. never lodged a detainer. On Feb. 20, 2020, the bail for Josephus was set at $100,000 monetary, meaning he had to post $10,000 to get out of jail. But he stayed in prison.
Just seven months later, on Sept. 30, 2020, Josephus was arrested in jail and charged with aggravated assault for attacking either a fellow prisoner or a prison guard. He was also charged with attempt to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats, simple assault, and reckless endangerment.
On Oct. 21, 2020, at the first listing of the aggravated assault of a prisoner case, Josephus' bail was reduced from $200,000 monetary down to $12,000 monetary, meaning only had to post $1,200 to get out of jail.
On Dec. 23, 2020, his bail was lowered in the carjacking case from $100,000 monetary to $20,000 monetary, meaning he only had to post $2,000 to get out of jail. On Dec. 29, 2020, according to court records, the bail was posted, and Josephus was a free man.
On Jan. 14, 2021, the day after Loncar was murdered, Josephus was arrested by police and charged with receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. His bail was set at $25,000 monetary.
Finally, yesterday, police arrested Josephus for the murder of Loncar. Josephus was charged with murder, conspiracy, robbery with intent to inflict serious harm, possession of a firearm, firearms not to be carried without a license, firearm not to be carried in public, and possession of an instrument of crime.
As of last night, Josephus was being held without bail.
Carlos Vega, a career homicide prosecutor running for the May 18th Democratic nomination for district attorney, said the blame for Loncar's murder rested squarely on District Attorney Larry Krasner.
"Basically, had Larry followed the law to keep the public safe, this young man would still be alive," Vega said about the victim.
About Josephus, Vega said, "There was no reason legally for him to be on the street with his record and what he had done."
"Judging by his alleged carjacking with a gun, his alleged assault in prison with a weapon, and his two robbery convictions, it was only a matter of time before he [Josephus] killed someone," Vega said.
According to Vega, Josephus should have been in custody because he was in violation fo rhis two robberies," because of the carjacking arrested violated his probation.
The lawn at the home of Loncar's Ardmore was covered with Black Lives Matter signs. According to his mother, Loncar was going to move in with his girlfriend next month while planning for an eventual wedding.
"I don't know why they did it, I just don't understand," Amy Lounsberry, Loncar's mother, told 6ABC .
"I was so proud of him," she said. "Everybody loved him."
"He was my soulmate, and I don't think I have a plan anymore without him," Olivia Gorski, Loncar's girlfriend, told 6ABC, while Loncar's sister held Roo.