Vasant Patel, 42, was shot multiple times on the night of February 10, 2023, on Butterworth Street Southwest in Grand Rapids, Michigan. First responders found him gravely wounded and he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died; the Kent County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Grand Rapids police identified and arrested a suspect, 20-year-old Neftali Hernandez, who was charged with open murder and a felony firearm offense. At trial a 911 call that captured the sound of the shooting was introduced as evidence. In March 2024 a Kent County jury convicted Hernandez of second-degree murder.

In April 2024 the judge sentenced Hernandez to a minimum of 20 years in prison; the court heard emotional impact statements from Patel’s family, including a letter from his nine-year-old child. If anyone has information about Patel’s last night on Butterworth Street Southwest, please come forward.