In the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, on the evening of January 16, 2018, the life of a 33-year-old Black man named Melvin Batties was tragically cut short. Just before 7:10 p.m., in the courtyard of the Sedgwick Houses on West 174th Street, a single gunshot to the neck left Batties unresponsive. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Batties, an aspiring musician from Brooklyn, was known to frequent the Sedgwick Houses to
film music videos, pursuing his creative passions. His sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and grief through his community of friends and fellow artists. The New York Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide.
Less than a month later, on February 12, 2018, the NYPD publicly identified a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting. They announced they were searching for Carl Henley, a 34-year-old man, whom they believed was responsible for Batties's murder. Authorities released Henley's name and photograph to the public, asking for any information regarding his whereabouts.
