A 47-year-old man facing charges for the fatal stabbing of a U.S. Marine in Wilmington, North Carolina, has a criminal history that stretches back over 30 years, including a previous conviction as a habitual felon.

Davy Spencer, 47, was apprehended and charged with second-degree murder following the stabbing of 21-year-old Lance Corporal Daniel Montano during a tumultuous early morning altercation on Easter Sunday, as reported by Wilmington police.

Montano, who served with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune, ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The Wilmington Police Department had earlier released surveillance images seeking to identify a person of interest in connection with the downtown stabbing that claimed the life of Lance Cpl. Daniel Montano. The incident unfolded during a significant early-morning melee on April 5, 2026, leading to the arrest of Davy Spencer.

According to documents accessed by Fox News Digital, Spencer’s criminal record traces back to the mid-1990s, when he was still a teenager.

Records from the North Carolina Department of Corrections reveal multiple arrests dating back to those early years.

• 1995: First criminal offense at age 16.
• 1996: Felony hit and run and multiple counts of felony breaking and entering, resulting in prison time.
• 2004: Attempted drug trafficking and assault on a female.
• 2006: Assault on a female and property damage offenses.
• 2009: Assault on a female.
• 2011: Felony drug possession and communicating threats.

In 2013 and 2014, Spencer was charged with multiple counts of selling narcotics and possession with intent to distribute.

In 2015, he was convicted as a habitual felon, which is applied on individuals with multiple prior felony convictions.

Following the 2015 conviction, Spencer was sentenced to 7 years, 3 months minimum and 9 years, 9 months maximum in state prison, records show. Spencer was released on January 17, 2021, and his parole ended one year later.

Davy Spencer, 47, was arrested by the Wilmington Police Department in North Carolina and faces charges of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. (Wilmington Police Department)

More recently, court records show Spencer continued to face charges following his release.

In 2023, he was arrested twice in New Hanover County and released on unsecured bonds.

On July 31, 2025, Wilmington police arrested Spencer again, charging him with resisting a public officer, marijuana possession and assault on a government official or employee.

The assault charge was later dismissed. He pleaded guilty to the remaining misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 27 days in custody.

The Wilmington Police Department headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina. (Google Maps)

Police say that on Easter Sunday, around 2 a.m., officers responded to reports of multiple fights in the 100 block of North Front Street in downtown Wilmington. The area, which is about 70 miles from Camp Lejeune, is a popular destination for Marines stationed at the East Coast’s largest Marine Corps base.

Video of the police response that has been circulating online shows officers deploying pepper spray before they encounter Montano, who was standing, bent over and bleeding heavily on a sidewalk.

The U.S. Marine was found suffering from a stab wound to the neck and later died from his injuries. A second man who was stabbed survived.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Montano, 21, a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, died after being stabbed during a downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, brawl on April 5, 2026. The image was shared on a GoFundMe page created by his family. (GoFundMe)

Montano’s relatives described him as a devoted Marine and a source of light in their lives.

“Daniel proudly served as a United States Marine, assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines Regiment at Camp Lejeune. He was not only dedicated to his country, but also deeply loved by his family. To us, he was more than a Marine — he was a son, a brother, and someone who brought so much light into our lives,” his family wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral expenses.

Spencer was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Authorities have not said what led to the fight. Fox News Digital has requested further comment from the Wilmington Police Department.

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