Michael Aaron Bland, 24, of Dayton, Ohio, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of August 14, 2003, after a heated argument at a party hosted by Donald Martin. Bland and a friend, Billy Salyers, got into a confrontation.

Salyers fled the scene and was later located at his girlfriend’s father’s home. He was charged with Felony Murder and Having a Weapon Under a Disability. At trial Salyers claimed self-defense, saying Bland was angry about Salyers backing out of a planned robbery, but party witnesses testified Bland was unarmed and was backing away when he was shot. The prosecution’s case relied on those witness accounts and the absence of any weapon on Bland.

Anyone who knew Michael Bland or who was at the party on August 14, 2003, with information that might shed more light on the shooting is asked to come forward.