A father and son in Warren, Ohio, have been convicted of murdering an on-duty U.S. Postal Service letter carrier who was gunned down while sitting in his mail truck. Kaprise Sledge, 24, and Thomas Sledge, 44, were found guilty by a federal jury of one count each of murdering a federal officer or employee and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The verdict closes the chapter on the March 2024 death of 33-year-old Jont'e Davis, whose killing involved a prolonged stalking period before the fatal shots were fired.
Background
The incident occurred along the 600 block of Olive Avenue North East in Warren, a city located approximately 55 miles east of Cleveland. On the day of the shooting, Davis was delivering mail in a standard USPS Grumman LLV when a gray Dodge Ram pulled up alongside his parked truck. The occupants of the Dodge Ram opened fire, killing Davis instantly.
Investigators later determined that the attack was not random. Using surveillance footage from multiple buildings and cellphone records, authorities established that the gray Dodge Ram had stalked Davis’s mail truck for approximately 90 minutes before the shooting. A witness called 911 immediately after the gunfire and identified the pickup truck involved in the attack.
The Charges
Federal prosecutors charged Kaprise and Thomas Sledge with murdering a federal employee and using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. The investigation was supported by evidence from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local authorities. During trial, investigators presented evidence that the Dodge Ram was registered to Kaprise Sledge. A search warrant executed at Kaprise’s residence allegedly uncovered evidence of drug trafficking.
A USPS Inspection Service investigator testified that the gray truck was known to belong to Kaprise Sledge and was subsequently found parked behind a house on Maryland Street North East, about a mile from the crime scene. Drone footage presented to the jury showed the vehicle hidden in the backyard, away from street view. Furthermore, cellphone location data placed both Sledges at the scene of the crime at the time of the shooting.
Key Takeaways
- Kaprise Sledge and Thomas Sledge were convicted of murdering federal employee Jont'e Davis and using a firearm in a crime of violence.
Surveillance and cellphone data revealed the suspects stalked the victim's mail truck for approximately 90 minutes before the shooting.
The gray Dodge Ram used in the attack was registered to Kaprise Sledge and was found hidden behind a residence near the crime scene.
Cellphone location data placed both defendants at the scene, while mail scanner data tracked the victim's movements.
The trial was overseen by U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent in the Northern District of Ohio.
What's Next
Following the jury's verdict, Kaprise and Thomas Sledge await sentencing. They are currently slated to be sentenced on Dec. 10. The conviction marks a significant legal victory for federal authorities in protecting the safety of postal workers, who often work in isolated or unpredictable environments. The defense had challenged the reliability of the 'Timing and Advance' process used to place the defendants at the scene, but the jury ultimately sided with the government.
The case highlights the intersection of local drug activity and federal jurisdiction, as evidence suggested a potential connection to drug trafficking, including a package delivered to Kaprise Sledge’s residence the day before the killing. The package, weighing 15 pounds and originating from California, was linked to mail-order marijuana deliveries, though defense attorneys noted the contents were not definitively proven.