Shaniya Davis Funeral Video: Father Bradley Lockhart Said God "Did This for a Reason"

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(WRAL)

Photo: Bradley Lockhart at his daughter Shaniya Davis' funeral.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (CBS/AP) More than 2000 people joined Shaniya Davis' father, Bradley Lockhart, Sunday, at an emotional funeral for the North Carolina 5-year-old, who police say was raped, murdered, then thrown in a pile of trash bags and deer carcasses like she was someone's garbage.

PICTURES: Shaniya Davis Found Dead
PICTURES: Shaniya Davis' Vigil

(Family Photo)

Photo: Shaniya Davis.

"Don't let God's words and don't let his actions get you down," Lockhart told the packed congregation. "He did this for a reason."

Police say Mario Andrette McNeill, an associate of Shaniya Davis' mother, Antoinette Davis, raped and murdered the young girl the same day her mother reported her missing Nov. 10. McNeill turned himself in to police two days after he was seen on a horrifying hotel surveillance video carrying Shaniya Davis down a hall and towards an elevator.

(Family Photo/WRAL-TV)

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by moonhrs October 18, 2010 9:18 PM EDT: People we need to look at the fact that the devil is on earth with us. No matter what anyone say we need to know that when we see a child that look scared we need to call the police. Maybe someone looked at Shaniya as this man was checking into the hotel and thought wow she looked scared. Maybe we should have thought about calling the police and now they will not come forward. We need to help each other protect our kids from these monsters. As for Shaniya's mother may she endure the pain and suffering 10 fold. In the end when she stand before GOD on judgement day his wrath will be far worse than what we can do to her on earth. Peace be still good people HE will take care of them all.; Reply to this comment


by Michaels_Sword November 27, 2009 11:06 PM EST: May this princess angel dwell in the full embrace of the Lord's love. And may all those involved with bringing harm to this child receive their full measure of the Lord's terrible wrath and may those in law enforcement be instruments of that wrath.; Reply to this comment


by bajasurfer November 27, 2009 2:48 AM EST: Horrendous as this is, and it is, this young lady has gone to be with the Lord. He said "don't despise these little ones for their angels always behold the face of the Father who is in heaven." Without doubt this little girl is with the Lord and more alive than those reading this comment. All men are Created Eternal, some go to life and some go to eternal death.

Allow God to use this angels death for Gods glory by turning from certain death to a living God. In this both the Angels and this angel will rejoice.; Reply to this comment


by Justice-for-SHANIYA November 23, 2009 10:49 PM EST: It seems there was a "free for all" with these sick bastards. The final act was rape & suffocation. She was burned with cigarettes and suffered a whole bunch of stuff in the hands of Antoinette, Clarence Coe and Mario McNeill. Three MONSTERS hell-bent on destroying this helpless 5 year old child. I WISH jail-justice on them. JUSTICE for Shaniya.; Reply to this comment

by GodfearingGirl November 23, 2009 10:21 PM EST

I agree with "bundye" when he/she says that God allows things to happen, but it is Satan that do things to people such as what happened to this little girl and not God. I have read other people commenting about how did God allowed this to happen. Let's just think about this for a moment and what the bible says: James 1: 13-15 says "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God CANNOT be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown , gives birth to death. As hard as it is to conceive the idea that one must not pass judgement on that person that did this horrifying crime on that little girl, eventually God who is the ultimate judge will pass pass judgement on him. This should just show everyone that world is so lost now that it has strayed away from God! The only good that has come out of this and the one comforting thing I do know is that little girl is now in Heaven and away from the EVIL men/women of this world! As far as people responding negatively towards what I just said...save your breath, because I live and breath the Word of God!!!!

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by HUMBLE-B November 24, 2009 5:40 PM EST: YOU ARE SOOO RIGHT GODFEARINGGIRL.Even though I wish there could be a public BURNING OF ALLLL those involved in Shaniyas death and torture, im sure it will not be allowed.How can we get harsher punishment here and now for these type of DEMONS living amongst us? Im willing to do whatever it takes to stop CHILD ABUSE.Jail time for these DEMONIC ANIMALS is not HARSH ENOUGH!

by GASIMMONS November 23, 2009 7:53 PM EST

when I first saw Shaniya's dad crying,I believed him,but the more I heard about this horrific story I do hold him accountable for what happened to this angel. He knew what her "mother" and I use that word loosely, was like, he knew about the drugs and the abuse his daughter suffered in her hands and still let her go to her mother's hell hole! I am disgusted by the events that led to Shaniya's murder! How can he say god did this for a reason? He put that baby in the devil's hands, he should have had supervised visits for her and her mother before he let her out of his sight. Her Aunt was watching her when he was away,why did they decide to let this monster get her hands on her? I am saddened by this story and the pain and suffering a 5 year old little girl had to endure because the adults in her life failed her. Her mother planned this all along, she faked her job and lived in filth and her father never bothered to check all these stories out before letting his daughter go over there. I realize he wanted Shaniya to know her birth mother but at the expense of her little life. I have cried everyday since they found her little body thrown away like she meant nothing, like she wasn't human. That picture of that pig holding her in the Hotel disgusts me and is burned into my memory forever. Shaniya, I didn't know you and I am sorry for your pain and I am sorry the adults in your life failed you. You are in heaven now with the angels, they will hold you and protect you the way you should have been here on earth, rest in peace baby girl.

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by HUMBLE-B November 24, 2009 5:50 PM EST: I FEEL THAT SAME PAIN ALSO.I LOVE YOUR COMMENT AND YES, KNOWING SHE'S IN GODS HANDS NOW IS SOMEWHAT COMFORTING EVEN THOUGH I WISH EVERYDAY THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED.I TOO AGREE THAT DAD FAILED SHAY BECAUSE HE WAS ALL SHE HAD AND HE JUST LET HER GO BE WITH THESE WILD DEMONIC ANIMALS.I PRAY FOR THE SWORD TO FALL UPON THEM ALLLL.


by nyasha123 November 23, 2009 11:43 AM EST: The father neglected her daughter period ! He should not shed crocodile tears. When Shaniya needed him most he was missing in action (MIA); Reply to this comment


by bundye November 23, 2009 11:18 AM EST: God allows some things to happen for our sakes..but know, Dad, your little girl's life was not in vain.; Reply to this comment

by highhorse313 November 23, 2009 11:15 AM EST

How dare he blame this on God? He is responsible for leaving this child with a questionable mother in a filthy run-down trailer. He never checked to make sure she was in pre-school. He never checked on his daughter! I wouldn't leave my dog in that trailer for 2 seconds. He is responsible for the death of this child just as much as the drug-addict mother and rapist/murderer. Throw all of them in jail. Who was looking out for Shaniya? Nobody!

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by amywaters November 23, 2009 11:41 AM EST: He is not blaming this on God. He is asking YOU to not blame it on God either. He wants you to know that he realizes that God is in control. I think that is very noble of him.