Shortly after 1 a.m. on March 9, 2017, Derrick Eugene Bates, 37, was fatally shot as he returned to his home on Oak Drive in Tuscumbia, Alabama. According to police, a hooded assailant lay in wait in Bates’s carport and fired a single shot that struck him in the head. Bates was found in his driveway and died at the scene. Home security video captured the attack but the shooter’s identity remained obscured by the hood. Investigators said there were no signs of a struggle and robbery was ruled out; then-Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan indicated the victim and assailant may have known each other.

Family described Bates, known as DB, as a loving father of seven and a kind, humble member of his community. Multiple agencies interviewed witnesses and pursued leads, including out-of-state tips, but the case remains unsolved and no arrests have been announced. If anyone has information about that night or the person shown on the footage, please come forward.