On April 15, 2020, tragedy struck in Flint, Michigan, when 37-year-old Black male Lester Leon Richards Jr. was fatally shot on what was his birthday. The incident occurred outside a liquor store in the city, turning a day of celebration into a violent crime scene. Richards sustained critical injuries during the shooting and was subsequently transported to Hurley Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Following the homicide, the investigation began with local authorities seeking information from the public. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County became involved, offering a cash reward for tips that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the motive and the identity of the shooter, were not immediately clear, and investigators worked to piece together the events that led to the violence outside the establishment.
Friends and family gathered to mourn Richards later that month. A family hour was held followed by funeral services at the Sheldon T. Banks Funeral Chapel on South Dort Highway in Flint. He was eventually laid to rest at Gracelawn Cemetery. As of the available public records following the event, the case appeared in databases for unsolved crimes and missing persons, indicating that no immediate arrests were widely publicized in the wake of the shooting, leaving the case as a matter of ongoing interest for local detectives and community members seeking justice.
