Jessie Richardson, 69, was found dead in his Calumet Avenue home in Niagara Falls, New York, on the morning of December 24, 2019. Family members discovered him on his bedroom floor with his gun in his hand; they told police this led them to believe he may have been trying to defend himself during a home invasion. Richardson owned Richardson’s Restaurant on Highland Avenue and was described by the community as a mentor and pillar of the local business scene.

The Niagara Falls Police Department deemed the circumstances suspicious and later officially ruled his death a homicide. His family said he had been the victim of multiple robberies at both his business and his home in the period before his death and had become fearful for his life. No public announcements about arrests or identified suspects have been made.

If anyone knew Jessie, saw unusual activity around his home or restaurant in December 2019, or has information about the robberies or the homicide, please share what is known with investigators.