Davis was walking to school with his mother in the Cabrini-Green housing projects when he was accidentally shot by Anthony Garrett, a member of a local street gang who intended to shoot a rival.

Dantrell's death sparked an increased awareness of the extensive violence occurring in Chicago's inner-city projects, and led to the first street gang truce in Cabrini–Green, which lasted for three years.

While walking to school, Davis was struck by a bullet fired by Anthony Garrett, who was perched in a 10th-floor apartment in the nearby 1157–59 N Cleveland Avenue high-rise building, and was pronounced dead at Children's Memorial Hospital.

The murder of Davis gained national attention, and brought an increasing awareness to the street violence that was rampant in Chicago's inner-city housing projects.

[1][2] The honorary street sign still remains, although much of the Cabrini–Green housing project, including Davis' home and the building he was shot from, have since been demolished.