David L. Gaines Sr

David L. Gaines Sr. was a 58-year-old Black man living in Dayton, Ohio. His family roots were in Minter, Alabama, where his parents, Bertha and David Gaines Sr., were from. He was one of seven brothers. Though details of his personal life are not widely public, he was part of a large family with connections to Springfield and Dayton.

The evening of Tuesday, September 16, 2014, turned tragic just before 10 p.m. outside David’s home in the 800 block of Huron Avenue in Dayton. Police and medics were dispatched to the scene following reports of a shooting. Arriving crews found a chaotic scene with clothing strewn in a yard and quickly transported David to Miami Valley Hospital. He was in critical condition, having been shot at least once, and was rushed into surgery. Despite the efforts of medical staff, David L. Gaines Sr. succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 3:36 a.m. the following morning, September 17. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office later confirmed he had been shot twice in the torso.

The Dayton Police Department immediately secured the area, taping off the street and blocking traffic at Dandridge and Fairbanks avenues as the investigation began. Homicide detectives and a Crime Scene Investigation unit were called to the scene that night to process evidence and speak with potential witnesses. Early in the investigation, police revealed a critical piece of information: David had visitors at his home just before the shooting occurred. Investigators believed these visitors were either directly involved in the shooting or possessed crucial knowledge about what had transpired.

In the immediate aftermath, Dayton Police Lt. Mark Ponichtera appealed to the public for assistance in identifying a suspect. However, despite this early lead regarding the visitors, the investigation has faced significant challenges. No arrests have ever been made in connection with David’s murder, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case has grown cold over the years, leaving his family without answers and his killer or killers at large.

The case is listed as an unsolved homicide by the Dayton Police Department and is also featured in the Ohio Attorney General's cold case files, a public effort to generate new leads for long-unresolved crimes. The lack of resolution means that the specific circumstances and motive behind the fatal shooting remain a mystery to the public.

Years have passed since David Gaines Sr. was killed, but the search for justice continues. His death was a profound loss to his family, who had already mourned the passing of several of his brothers. The investigation into his murder remains open but inactive pending new information. Authorities continue to urge anyone who might know something about the events of that September night on Huron Avenue to come forward. The Dayton Police Department can be reached at 937-333-COPS.