Crime photos, confession released in Polk State students shooting death | News

Winter Haven, Florida - It is the first time that the public is hearing the confession from 32-year-old Joshua Davis, the man who admitted to killing his friends, who were college students, back in late April in Winter Haven.

Christian Rodriguez, Joe Palacios and Esteban Zavala were all shot while hanging out at Davis' apartment.

See crime scene photos here. 

Davis told police that he had a "dark feeling" that night after he and the students smoked pot. He admits to investigators that he was "scared."

The Winter Haven police chief told the media that Davis admitted to playing a violent video game every day, and that Davis came down the hallway shooting his gun that night in a "crouched, combat-style position, close to the floor."

Davis says he was scared for his little girl, although police say there's no evidence to support that the child was in danger prior to the shootings.

The victims that fateful night were three students enjoying a busy campus life at Polk State College.

They were all teenagers, all best friends.

The crime scene was bloody and filled with bullets.

The confession of Joshua Davis was recorded during an interview with investigators from Winter Haven.

 Detectives asked, "So, how'd you get the blood on you, on your head? You got that from your room?"

Davis answered, "No, there's these two guys inside. I'm pretty sure I killed both of them. I was there, we were hanging out. I thought we were friends."

Davis then starts to cry.  "I was so scared, there were three of them, but one of them got away. He was like, man you're crazy, what are you doing? And, he ran."

Davis goes on to say that he panicked and described what was going through his mind. 

Davis told investigators, "I don't know why I got so scared. I just freaked out and I did what I thought was the best thing to do. It was almost as if I could read their minds while watching their face and feeling their vibes, you know what I mean from doing some drugs when I was a kid."

Then, he begins crying even more.   "I just got scared. I don't know why. I saw three of them and me and my little girl. My wife was at work."

Davis told police that one student got away, Estaban Zavala. Drivers called 911 and saw him staggering down the street after he was shot.

One caller told 911, "He's covered in blood in the middle of the street. He's covered in blood everywhere."  Zavala survived that night.

In a powerful moment during the interview process, detectives spoke to Davis and described in detail the last moments of Christian Rodriguez's life.

"While he's begging, please don't, please Josh don't! (DETECTIVE BANGS TABLE), that' s the end of Christian's life," the detective said.

Dozens and dozens of crime scene photos show the apartment covered in blood, along with bullets everywhere.  The photos also show the bodies of the young men who were gunned down that night.

Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty in this case.

Joshua Davis faces two counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted first degree murder and one count of child abuse. 

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