Melvin Patterson, a 21-year-old resident of Carlsbad, California, was shot to death on August 14, 2003. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds, injuries that were determined to be the cause of death, and the Carlsbad Police Department opened a full-scale homicide investigation.

Detectives developed several leads and identified multiple persons of interest. One man named in the investigation, Demetrius Gater, was later convicted of murder, attempted murder, and assault with a firearm. The prosecution’s case against Gater relied on forensic evidence, witness testimony and wiretapped conversations; other individuals were investigated but not charged.

The killing touched the Carlsbad community and Patterson’s family sought justice through the courts.