Michael Hatcher, a 49-year-old Black man described as a husband, father of six and grandfather of three, was found with a gunshot wound near Southern Avenue and 16th Street in Phoenix on September 17, 2020. Phoenix Police officers arrived about 6:20 p.m.; Hatcher was pronounced dead at the scene. He had opened his own restaurant nine days earlier after six years of work that began with a hot dog cart.

Investigators quickly identified a suspect. Eighteen-year-old Deavione Jones was arrested and booked into Maricopa County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities said preliminary information suggested the shooting was not random and that Hatcher and Jones were acquainted; an altercation reportedly occurred immediately before the shooting. The investigation into the circumstances of that dispute was ongoing.

A GoFundMe was set up to assist Hatcher’s family with funeral costs and to honor his recent achievement as a small-business owner. Does anyone have information about Hatcher, his restaurant, or the events near Southern Avenue and 16th Street that evening?