Demetrius Dennis was 38 when he was shot and killed in Spokane, Washington, on the evening of December 26, 2015. He was reportedly hosting a party at his home on West Central Avenue, where he lived with his girlfriend, Melissa Wilson, and their two-month-old infant. A knock at the door brought Brian Lee Hall, Wilson’s ex-boyfriend, to the house; the two men had a history of threats and past violence. When Dennis answered, Hall fired a single shot that struck Dennis in the chest. Dennis ran to the back of the house, collapsed in the backyard, and died of his wound. Hall briefly entered the home, pointed the gun at Wilson as she held the child, then fled. He was arrested the next morning at a local motel after calling his son and saying he was in trouble and had shot someone.

Prosecutors charged Hall with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, and a firearm possession count to which he pleaded guilty. At trial the prosecution portrayed the killing as premeditated, while the defense said Hall acted in self-defense, claiming Dennis lunged at him. The jury convicted Hall of first-degree murder and first-degree burglary and he received a lengthy prison sentence. Does anyone have information about Dennis, his family, or the events that night that could shed more light on what happened?