Middleton High School student struck and killed by pickup truck

TAMPA — As the oldest of four girls, Shenika Davis was the protector.

When her younger sister got into middle school fights, Shenika was there to tell off the other kids. When an older cousin needed someone with a strong voice to have her back, she was there.

One day, she used to say, she wanted to become a mother and join the U.S. Army.

"She wanted to serve and protect," said cousin Charity Barr, in tears.

Shenika, a week from her 16th birthday, never got the chance.

The Middleton High School freshman died Wednesday morning after she stepped into the path of a pickup truck on her way to school, police said.

She took the route often, passing houses on mostly residential roads until she got to E Hillsborough Avenue, said sister Jessica Davis, who turned 15 on Wednesday.

Shenika would cross Hillsborough at the railroad tracks between 22nd Street and 30th Street, not far from the Sanwa Farmer's Market.

That's where she was crossing at 6:35 a.m. Wednesday.

She was almost to the sidewalk when she was hit by a GMC Sierra pickup truck, police said. She died at the scene.

It was still dark and Shenika was wearing dark clothes, police said.

Driver Tommy Murphy, 46, apparently did not see her. Another driver came within inches of striking her again, but managed to stop.

Police said they don't believe speed was a factor in the crash and don't expect charges to be filed.

In a tragic coincidence, Wednesday was International Walk to School Day, a day meant to create awareness of the need for walkable communities and safe crosswalks and sidewalks.

"That makes it even worse," said Linda Cobbe, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Schools.

Jessica Davis worried about her sister walking to school, but not because of the traffic. She was afraid a snake might pop out at her from the bushes.

Several members of the family gathered at a grandmother's house just a few doors away from Shenika's home.

They recalled a sweet girl. She was tall, beautiful, innocent, they said. She got A's and B's in school.

"She wanted to be a great mother," Barr said. "The greatest mother ever."

Counselors were being sent Wednesday to Middleton High School to speak with students.

Danny Valentine can be reached at (813) 226-3386 or dvalentine@sptimes.com.