On July 2, 2024, 27-year-old Dontae Dickerson was fatally shot inside the Lucky 7 convenience store located on the 1100 block of Morton Avenue in Chester, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred around 11:20 a.m., when police responded to reports of a shooting and found Dickerson lying on the store floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance footage from the store revealed that a man entered around 11:05 a.m., purchased an item, and then approached Dickerson from behind as he waited in line. The assailant drew a firearm and shot Dickerson in the back of the head before fleeing the scene on foot, heading south on Elsinore Place.
Following a thorough investigation, authorities identified the shooter as 19-year-old Chester resident, Haneef Melton. He was apprehended on August 28, 2024, in Philadelphia and charged with criminal homicide, first and third-degree murder, firearms violations, and related offenses. Melton was denied bail and is currently held at the Delaware County Prison, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 7, 2024.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, leaving Dickerson's family, including his 7-year-old daughter, seeking answers and justice. His mother, Mickette Cephas, described him as a jovial individual, known for his humor and dancing, and emphasized that he was not involved in street activities.
