FLINT – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said three Flint men have been found guilty related to the 2021 shooting death of Devaroe Davis outside the Eagle Ridge Square apartments in Flint.
A Genesee County jury found Clifton Eugene Terry III, 35, a local rapper known as “Cliff Mac,” and Andres Vela, 28, guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in the killing of Davis. A third defendant, Isiah Lejon Claiborne, 38, was convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and felony firearm.
In addition to the murder conviction, Terry was found guilty of 11 other felony offenses while Vela was convicted on all 16 charges brought against him by Prosecutor Leyton’s office.
Davis was shot and killed August 17, 2021, while sitting in a vehicle outside the Eagle Ridge Square apartment complex near the intersection of Selby Street and East Russell Avenue in Flint.
Leyton described Terry as a major “crime driver” in the Flint area and beyond, alleging that he organized, financed and participated in a series of violent crimes and shootings.
Leyton said Claiborne was one of Terry’s closest associates, helping coordinate logistics, vehicles and payments to other individuals involved in the crimes.
“This verdict represents justice for Devaroe Davis and his family,” said Leyton. “It is also a significant victory for the community because it removes from our streets one of the top crime drivers in the Flint area, someone we believe is responsible for countless violent crimes and homicides over a period of years.
Terry also faces federal charges related to two other homicides that occurred in Burton in 2020.
Terry and Vela are scheduled to be sentenced on July 10 and each faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Claiborne is also scheduled to be sentenced on that date and faces a substantial prison term.
Leyton thanked the hard work of his team of prosecutors led by Assistant Prosecutors Mark Ross and Zachary Serzo at trial and Karen Hanson who has spent an enormous amount of time over the years bringing these individuals to justice.
In addition, Leyton said that none of this would be possible without the hard work and support of the outstanding team of investigators, secretaries, paralegals, victim advocates and other APAs in the office who assisted in so many ways from start to finish. He also acknowledged and thanked the dedicated men and women in uniform who investigated the cases including from the City of Flint, Michigan State Police,
Burton, Mount Morris City, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI along with various other experts and crime lab technicians.
“It takes a village and then some to bring these cases to trial and it is absolutely a team effort that brings justice to our community,” Leyton said.
