Dean Phillips, 54, was shot and killed in the parking lot of Manuel’s Tavern in the Poncey-Highland area of Atlanta on the night of October 27, 2022. Phillips, a married father of five, reportedly confronted a man he saw attempting to break into vehicles and urged other patrons to call police. The suspect shot Phillips in the chest; patrons and employees applied pressure to the wound but Phillips died at the scene. The shooter fled in a waiting getaway car.

The Atlanta Police Department released a surveillance photo of a person of interest seen in a convenience store and the reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment was raised to $10,000. Phillips was remembered as a mentor and the founder of a foundation that provided beds for underprivileged children; he would have celebrated his 23rd wedding anniversary days after his death. No arrests have been announced.

If anyone was at Manuel’s Tavern that night or has information about the person in the surveillance image, please come forward.