Update, 7:52 p.m.The three children abducted by their biological mother this morning from a Fishersville bus stop are safe, according to a release from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation by ACSO determined Shanice Chante Davison was likely headed to Alabama with the children and an AMBER Alert was issued that warned the missing children were in “extreme danger.”
The Alabama Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshall Service took Davison into custody in the Birmingham area after a brief pursuit on Interstate 459 this evening.
Davison was taken into custody without incident and arrested on the outstanding warrants from Augusta County.
The U.S. Marshall’s office notified ACSO of the arrest at 5:48 p.m.
The 600-mile trip from Virginia to Alabama would have taken approximately nine hours with no stops.
The three children – Jai’Marcus Lewis, 10; Ja’Miyah Lewis, eight; and Ja’Liyah Lewis, six – were last seen at approximately 7:40 a.m. waiting at a bus stop at an apartment complex on Bobby’s Way in Fishersville. According to police, the children were seen getting into a newer model black Nissan Sentra.
The ACSO received a call reporting the kidnapping at 8:27 a.m. Davison was announced as a suspect this afternoon.
The AMBER Alert was cancelled by Virginia State Police at approximately 6:21 p.m., approximately 11 hours after the public was notified by cellular phones and cable TV of the missing children.
Charges are pending. Davison was wanted on three counts of felony abduction.
The Virginia State Police, U.S. Marshall’s Office, FBI, Alabama Highway Patrol and the Evergreen Police Department assisted ACSO in the investigation and arrest.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 245-5333.
Update, 6:21 p.m. All three children have been located safe, according to an update from a Virginia State Police spokesperson.
The AMBER Alert has been cancelled.
No further details were provided.
Update, 5:40 p.m. The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Shanice Chante Davison is responsible for the disappearance of three children from a bus stop this morning in Fishersville.
Davison is the estranged biological mother of the children. She is from Evergreen, Ala., according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
It is believed that Davison is traveling with the children back to Alabama.
She may be driving a black four-door sedan. The ACSO has not determined the tag information on the suspect vehicle at this time.
“This is an active investigation, and we are committed to reuniting the children with their legal guardians as quickly and safely as possible,” said Donald Smith, ACSO Sheriff.
There is no immediate threat to the Augusta County community, Smith said. It is believed that Davison has crossed state lines and is no longer in Virginia.
Davison is wanted for three counts of felony abduction.
The ACSO also released a headshot of Davison. If you see Davison or the children, the sheriff’s department recommends that you do not approach them. Instead, contact local law enforcement.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Shanice Davison or the children are asked to call the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office immediately at (540) 245-5333. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-2017.
Updated, 2:04 p.m.Virginia State Police have identified a suspect in the abduction of three Augusta County children this morning in Fishersville.
Shanice Chante Davison, 35, the children’s biological mother, is a suspect in the missing persons case, according to VSP.
The abducted children include Jai’Marcus Lewis, 10; Ja’Miyah Lewis, 8; and Ja’Liyah, 6.
Davison is believed to be in a a newer model black Nissan Sentra with an unknown tag.
Davison is 5 foot, 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 184 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
An AMBER Alert for the three children was sent out by cellular phone and cable television around 1:45 p.m. The alert said the children were in “extreme danger.”
Original story posted at 12:26 p.m. Three Augusta County children waiting for a school bus were allegedly abducted this morning at an apartment complex on Bobby’s Way in Fishersville.
A four-door black vehicle reportedly pulled up to the bus stop and took the children, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The children missing are siblings. They include:
- Jai’Marcus Lewis, Black male, 10 years old, 5 foot tall, 80 pounds
- Ja’Miyah Lewis, Black female, 8 years old, 3 foot, six inches tall, 70 pounds
- Ja’Liyah Lewis, Black female, 6 years old, 3 foot tall, 40 pounds
Both of the two girls were wearing pink jackets, and the boy was wearing a black and dark blue jacket with neon zippers.
The children were last seen at approximately 7:40 a.m. this morning, when they left to go to the bus stop.
The ACSO received a call reporting the kidnapping at 8:27 a.m.
A reverse 911 call has been sent out within a five-mile radius of Bobby’s Way regarding the missing children.
If you know the whereabouts of these children or saw a black vehicle in this vicinity picking up three children, call the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 245-5333.
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Crystal Graham
