Michael Junior Gammage, a 26-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on February 5, 2014, in Orlando, Florida. The incident occurred in the home he shared with his girlfriend, Zandra Hatcher, and her three children. On the night of the shooting, police were called to the residence on Cepeda Street at approximately 10:42 p.m. They found Michael Gammage dead from a gunshot wound to the face.
The medical examiner determined that the shot was fired from a distance not consistent with suicide, leading to the conclusion that it was a homicide.
Zandra Hatcher, a 38-year-old African American female, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. According to the police report, Hatcher and Gammage had been living together for four months. On the night of the incident, Hatcher's children heard a gunshot and saw their mother leave the bedroom in a panic. One of the children reported hearing Hatcher say, "Don't do it," before the shot was fired. Despite the chaotic scene, the firearm used in the shooting was never recovered.
During the investigation, questions arose about the nature of the couple's relationship and whether domestic violence played a role. Hatcher's defense argued that she had suffered abuse as a child, which may have influenced her actions. Due to these uncertainties, the charges against Hatcher were downgraded from second-degree murder to manslaughter. In June 2015, Hatcher pleaded no contest to the manslaughter charge and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The case highlighted several unresolved issues, including the exact circumstances leading to the shooting and the location of the missing firearm. Despite these lingering questions, the court proceedings concluded with Hatcher accepting responsibility for Gammage's death and expressing remorse for her actions.
