On the evening of May 4, 2023, Douglas Bates, a 51-year-old Black man, was shot in the Upton neighborhood of Baltimore. The shooting occurred about 6:00 p.m. in the 600 block of West Lafayette Avenue. First responders found Bates and an unidentified woman with gunshot wounds; both were taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Douglas Bates died of his injuries on May 6, 2023. Homicide detectives opened an investigation into the double shooting but stated they had not identified a motive or any suspects at that time. Metro Crime Stoppers offered an $8,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, and authorities continued to appeal to the public for assistance. No arrests or suspects have been publicly announced.

If anyone has information about the May 4 shooting on West Lafayette Avenue or knew Douglas Bates, please contact the Baltimore Police Department or Metro Crime Stoppers.