Marcus Marc Sanders, a 29-year-old African American man, died of a gunshot wound after an altercation at the Majestic Lounge on West Third Street in Dayton. The confrontation began in the early hours of June 5, 2001, when Sanders and friends Bobby Birdsong and Jermaine Coleman had words with Shawn N. Lemon, a man with whom Sanders reportedly had past conflicts. The dispute moved into the parking lot, where Lemon retrieved a gun from a nearby car and approached Sanders from behind, shooting him in the head. Sanders’ friends fled; Sanders died the following day on June 6, 2001.

Shawn N. Lemon was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. The trial record presented the shooting as intentional and premeditated; a jury found Lemon guilty and imposed a sentence that included 15 years to life plus three years for a firearm specification. The death devastated Sanders’ family and community.

If anyone knew Marcus Marc Sanders, was at the Majestic Lounge that night, or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please share what is known.