Benny Barefield, 48, was shot and killed on December 14, 2018 while sitting in his car outside his Middletown, Ohio home, near Yankee Road and Ninth Avenue. A home security camera recorded a person in a hooded sweatshirt firing three shots.

Middletown police arrested three suspects and identified a fourth in connection with the shooting. Those charged included Quanterius Keith, Dwight Bailey III, and a 17-year-old male, with counts reported as aggravated murder or complicity to aggravated murder and other felonies including participating in a criminal gang. In March 2019 U.S. Marshals arrested a fourth suspect, Daniel Fitzgerald, on a complicity to aggravated murder charge. A Butler County grand jury later declined to indict the suspects, citing insufficient evidence, and they were released while the investigation remained open.

The family has described ongoing grief and frustration, saying the unresolved case has been hard on Barefield’s children and that they see a link to gang-related violence. Middletown police say they will pursue new leads and present new evidence to a grand jury if it emerges. If anyone knew Benny or has information about the shooting, please share what is known with investigators.