On the night of May 24, 2014, outside Tubby’s Bar in Bay City, Michigan, 38-year-old Alfred C. Butta Watts was shot multiple times and killed. Some of the shots struck him in the back and others were fired while he was on the ground. Watts was expecting his first child in a few months.

Authorities identified Cruz Devon Hinds as a suspect after an investigation indicated Hinds chased Watts and shot him five times. Hinds was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, and three counts of felony firearm. At trial Hinds denied initially possessing a gun but, when shown the weapon recovered by police, admitted to the killing and claimed self-defense, saying he had chased the wrong person in the chaos. The jury rejected that defense and convicted Hinds of first-degree premeditated murder and the firearm-related counts.

Hinds was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder conviction, with additional concurrent and consecutive terms on the other charges. An appeal arguing errors in jury instructions about self-defense and the duty to retreat was filed and ultimately rejected by the appellate court.

If anyone knew Alfred Watts or has information about the events that night, please share what you know.