Morris Dewayne Shepherd, a 33-year-old African American man from Bradenton, Florida, was shot and killed shortly before 4 a.m. on June 13, 2020 at the Big Boy Hookah Lounge, 4034 N. Washington Street in Sarasota. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation.

Early reports suggested the shooting may have been claimed as self-defense, but investigators continued to collect evidence and interview witnesses. No arrests had been announced at the time of these updates. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.

What did anyone who was near the Big Boy Hookah Lounge that morning see or hear that could help clarify what happened?