A 31-year-old Oakland man accused of robbing a family of five at gunpoint and pistol-whipping the father in front of his children is now facing federal firearms charges, after he was mistakenly released from jail and was out of custody. Patrice Davis was already barred from possessing guns because of a lengthy criminal record, yet police say they later found three pistols and a rifle stashed in a San Leandro storage unit and pickup truck.
The case traces back to January 2024, when Oakland police say Davis robbed a family inside a GMC vehicle, according to court records cited by The Mercury News. Police allege Davis pistol-whipped the father during the robbery and told him, “I don’t give a f—, I’ll kill you and your children.” The victim later told authorities, “I’ll never forget his face,” identifying Davis to police as the man responsible.
Investigators say the victim’s Find My iPhone app helped track a stolen phone back to Davis’ Oakland home, and a GPS ankle monitor tied to his parole placed him at the scene of the robbery, according to police. Oakland police also allege that Davis and another man tossed guns over a fence in an attempt to hide them from arresting officers. Davis was first arrested in the shooting case in January 2024, then was re-arrested that March, and the same outlet’s report notes he has been in jail ever since that second arrest.
An Accidental Release and a Vanishing Act
At some point after his March 2024 re-arrest, police records show Davis was accidentally released from custody. He then absconded from court and remained out of custody before police eventually found the weapons in San Leandro. It remains unclear exactly how the release occurred or how long Davis evaded authorities before turning up again in the system…