Police identified Marvis Davis after a North Edgewood Street stabbing that led to a SWAT response and his arrest.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A 52-year-old man has been charged with murder and related offenses after 53-year-old Mark Burton was fatally stabbed inside a West Philadelphia home, police said, marking a new stage in an investigation that began with an armed-person call and a brief barricade.
Philadelphia police identified the accused man as Marvis Davis, 52, after officers responded to the unit block of North Edgewood Street shortly after 9 a.m. Oct. 15. Officers found Burton suffering from multiple stab wounds, according to police. Medics pronounced him dead at 9:19 a.m. Davis was later taken into custody by members of the department’s SWAT Unit.
The charges provide the first formal criminal case to emerge from the confrontation, but authorities have not publicly detailed what they believe led to Burton’s death. A motive has not been announced, and police have not released a full account of what happened inside the residence before officers arrived.
Police said the response began at about 9:03 a.m. when 19th District officers were sent to North Edgewood Street for a report of a person with a weapon. FOX 29 reported that a caretaker had arrived at the home and found the man she cared for had been stabbed. Officers soon believed another person with a weapon remained inside, prompting a larger police response.
Authorities said Davis was inside a locked second-floor bedroom when officers declared a barricade. SWAT officers were called to the property and eventually took him into custody without incident. Police said no one else was injured during the response.
Other local reports said two women were able to leave the residence as officers dealt with the barricade. Police did not immediately release additional details about the women or describe what role, if any, they may have had in the investigation. Authorities also have not released a detailed timeline of events inside the home before the emergency call.
Burton lived on the same block where the stabbing occurred. His family told local news organizations that he lived in a shared residence and described the man taken into custody as a housemate. Family members said Burton and the other resident had disagreements in the past, though police have not publicly identified any prior dispute as the cause of the killing.
Burton’s cousin, Cyrell Green, remembered him as a gentle man who enjoyed music and cared about his family. Relatives said his death came after the family had already endured other recent losses. Their comments offered a picture of Burton beyond the police investigation as detectives worked to establish what happened inside the Edgewood Street home.
The homicide investigation remains active. Davis is charged with murder and related offenses, but the filing of criminal charges is an accusation and does not establish guilt. Authorities had not publicly disclosed a motive or a more detailed account of the confrontation as of Monday.
Author note: Last updated October 19, 2026.