John Dawson, 47, was found lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound to his upper torso on August 16, 2018, on the 600 block of West First Avenue, in a neighborhood north of Chico State University. Chico police and medics responded to a call about a possible shooting around 4:30 a.m.; Dawson was taken to Enloe Medical Center and pronounced dead. Officers found he had been shot once; the type of firearm was not immediately clear.

A woman placed the initial call, though her relationship to Dawson was not specified. The scene was cordoned off that morning while officers collected evidence, but investigators obtained only limited witness statements and were unable to interview Dawson before he died. No suspects had been identified and no arrests were made; the motive remained unknown.

Anyone who might have information or security camera footage from the area is asked to come forward to assist the investigation.