Meet the 30 homicide victims killed in Syracuse in 2016

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Photo: Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard archives

2016: Syracuse's deadliest year

Update: A 31st homicide was announced in February 2017 after an autopsy revealed a man died from injuries sustained during a 2016 assault. The information on that case has been added to the slides below.

When it comes to homicides, no year has been deadlier in Syracuse than 2016.

There were 31 homicides in the city last year. Seven of the victims were females and 24 were males. Three were children.

Arrests have been made in 18 of the 31 homicides.

Tiffany Jackson is one of the mourners who is waiting for answers. Jamall Kelly, her boyfriend and the father of her infant daughter, was shot to death in July. She said she wishes people would stop trying to play God.

"You can't play God and think it’s going to be OK," she said. "You took someone away from their family."

Here's a look at the 31 people who were killed in Syracuse in 2016.

By Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard reporters Samantha House, Kira Maddox and Ken Sturtz

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Photo: Facebook screenshot

1: Jada Dame

Name: Jada Dame

Age: 18

Date of death: Jan. 4, 2016

The case: Dame, a Syracuse native, was stabbed to death on Jan. 4 inside her 410 Boyden St. apartment. Farod Mosley, an acquaintance, was arrested just over two weeks later and charged with murdering Dame. Mosley's case is pending.

The victim: Dame was enrolled at Bryant & Stratton College when she died, according to her obituary. She was the second child her mother, Trina Armstead, lost. Dame's little brother, Brandon Sobles, died in February 2000 when he was 2 months old, according to The Post-Standard | Syracuse.com's archives.

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Photo: Dennis Nett | Syracuse.com

2: David A. Jones

Name: David A. Jones

Age: 43

Date of death: Jan. 13, 2016

The case: Jones was stabbed Jan. 13 by his live-in girlfriend, Lakiesha M. Brown, at their home at 109 Charmouth Drive during a domestic dispute.

The victim: Brown was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Jones. Her case is pending and she remains in the Onondaga County jail without bail.

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Photo: Obituary

3: Marcus Dunn

Name: Marcus Dunn

Age: 29

Date of death: Jan. 30, 2016

The case: Dunn, a Syracuse native, was fatally shot in the back around 12:50 a.m. January 30 on Mark Avenue -- the street where his family lives. At the end of 2016, no one had been charged in the fatal shooting.

The victim: Dunn, who has a twin brother, graduated from Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Georgia, but eventually returned to Syracuse. His family described him as a smiling, funny man who was part of the Southern Missionary Baptist Church.

"He didn't deserve it," said Dunn's older brother, Patrick Dunn, during a vigil in January. "He was raised up in the church. God chose him to be a follower."

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Photo: provided

4: Kiair Abdellatif-Barrot

Name: Kiair Abdellatif-Barrot

Age: 19

Date of death: Feb. 7, 2016

The case: Abdellatif was fatally shot the night of Feb. 7 in the 600 block of Park Street. His father, Eduardo Barrot, said witnesses told him his son got a call from "a girl" telling him to cross the street during the Super Bowl. He walked out and was shot, Barrot said. The case remains open.

The victim: Abdellatif graduated from Henninger High School. He had two sisters and eight brothers. Barrot said his son was an "entrepreneur" who was just beginning to create graphic T-shirts. Abdellatif received a business license in August 2014 when he was 18 for "Triple Eye Co." He also did video editing and producing. Barrot said in February that he could not believe what had happened and did not know who would want to hurt his son. "I would never think this for him in a million -- two million years," he said. "It just wasn't for him."

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Photo: Provided

5: Maddox Lawrence

Name: Maddox Lawrence

Age: 21 months

Date of death: Feb. 20, 2016

The case: Maddox was kidnapped from Syracuse by her father, Ryan Lawrence, on Feb. 20 and killed with a bat in a remote wooded area near Tinker Falls in Cortland County. After killing his daughter, Lawrence dumped her body in Onondaga Creek/Inner Harbor. After three days, the search for Maddox ended when Lawrence led investigators to her body.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to murdering his daughter and is serving 25 years to life in prison.

The victim: Before her first birthday, Maddox was diagnosed with eye cancer. She survived, only to have her short life ended by her father in a case that drew national attention. Morgan Lawrence, Maddox's mother, said she wants her daughter to be remembered for her life.

"I don't want to be identified by Ryan's horrible actions, and I don't want Maddox's life to be known by her death," she said at her ex-husband's sentencing. "I want her to be known for who she was, and I want to be known for the loving mom and wife that I truly was."

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Photo: Dennis Nett | syracuse.com

6: Charles Townsend

Name: Charles Townsend

Age: 21

Date of death: Feb. 29, 2016

The case: Very little is known about why Townsend was killed. Police said they found him with a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen after responding to a shooting call at 227-229 Rich St. Townsend was taken to Upstate University Hospital for treatment, but later died from his injuries.

The victim: Townsend came from a big family that loved him, family members said. He had three sisters, five brothers, and was a father to two children.

His family has had to live with knowing police had no suspect information for Townsend's killer. They said they hoped speaking out would urge someone to come forward with more details about the night Townsend was killed.

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Photo: Facebook

7: Steven Pinet

Name: Steven Pinet

Age: 26

Date of death: March, 16, 2016

The case: Pinet was shot multiple times March 16 in the parking lot of the Aberdeen apartment complex at 3101 Burnet Ave. where he lived. He had just dropped his child off with his girlfriend. No arrests have been made in the case.

The victim: Pinet was born in Syracuse and played football at Corcoran High School. He had five sisters. His mother, Janette Rivera-Deleon, said she moved to Syracuse from New York City years ago because she never finished school and wanted her children to have a chance at a better life. Pinet's father died when he was 5 years old and Rivera-Deleon said she raised her son on her own. Pinet had three children at the time of his death and wanted to coach football someday, his mother said. "He had a dream and they took that dream away," she said.

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Photo: Obituary

8: Francisco Tejeda

Name: Francisco Tejeda

Age: 35

Date of death: March 27, 2016

The case: Francisco "Frankie" Tejeda was shot in the early evening of March 27 on the 300 block of Tioga Street, only a few feet away from Skiddy Park on Syracuse's near westside. No one has been charged in his death.

The victim: Tejeda was born in Harlem, but had lived in Syracuse for seven years. He was a handyman and had worked at Ryan Painting Co. painting and fixing up houses for a living, friends said. You could tell when he had a long workday because he would have paint in his beard, they said.

Tejeda was described as a family man, and regularly walked his four children to school, friends said. But this wasn't a quality he reserved for family.

"He looked out for everyone, even if he didn't really know you," friends wrote on a GoFundMe page. They remembered him offering to cut hair for kids in the neighborhood, and would help them fix their bikes. He even bought pay-per-view boxing matches and brought his TV outside for anyone to watch with him.

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Photo: Ken Sturtz

9: Martell Derby

Name: Martell Derby

Age: 36

Date of death: April 18, 2016

The case: Police said Randy Williams and Derby were armed with a large knife and what appeared to be a gun when they knocked on the door at 208 Ash St., forced their way in and stole cash, marijuana and a cell phone from the residents. One of those residents, Christian E. Quinones, fought back with the men and then retrieved a revolver and raced outside to confront them. After being shot at, Quinones fired back, police said. Derby died at the scene.

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Photo: Provided

10: Maurice Ross

Name: Maurice Ross

Age: 30

Date of death: April 29, 2016

The case: Ross was shot to death late April 29 during an argument with a man outside of Express Lane Mart at 3226 S. Salina St. After shooting Ross in the head, the shooter and another man ran away from the store on West Calthrop Avenue, police said. At the end of 2016, Ross' death remained unsolved.

The victim: Ross, of Syracuse, worked at Chipotle Mexican Grill on Marshall Street. Before working at Chipotle, the father of seven was the part owner of Ross Unloading Services and Calvin and Maurice Unloading Company. In a description of himself on his Facebook page, Ross used one word: "Blessed."

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Photo: Obituary

11: Ra'Quan Vereen

Name: Ra'Quan Vereen

Age: 34

Date of death: May 2, 2016

The case: Vereen was stabbed Dec. 8, 2015, at a party at 105 Knaul St. He spent nearly five months in Upstate University Hospital and James Square Health and Rehabilitation Center after the attack but never regained consciousness, police said.

Police said Vereen was seen getting into an argument with Deshaun M. Somers, 18, during the Knaul Street party. Somers then attacked Vereen, stabbing him in the chest, police said.

Somers was indicted on manslaughter charges Nov. 18 for Vereen's death and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

The victim: Vereen was born and raised in the Syracuse area, with four sisters and five brothers, according to his obituary.

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Photo: Facebook screenshot

12: Willie Gilmore

Name: Willie Gilmore

Age: 38

Date of death: May 28, 2016

The case: Gilmore was fatally stabbed while along the 300 block of Webster Avenue, police said. He later died at Upstate University Hospital. No one has been charged for Gilmore's murder, and police said they had limited suspect information.

The victim: Gilmore was popularly known by his nickname "Tiger," according to his obituary. He was born in the city and went to high school in Liverpool.

Gilmore’s family said his father had adopted three boys, and Willie was the youngest. His sister, Theresa Bey, joked that he was treated like the baby of the family, but said you could always go to him if you had something you needed to talk about.

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Photo: Provided

13: Tabarrie Tillie

Name: Tabarrie "Dooly" Tillie (center)

Age: 32

Date of death: May, 31, 2016

The case: Tillie was shot May 31 in a pickup truck on Primrose Avenue. Vikal Williams, 15, calmly walked across a park and a street crowded with children and climbed into an idling truck. Seconds later there was gunfire. Tillie had been in an altercation with the teen earlier. Williams took a plea deal this month and is facing 7 ½ years to life in prison. An accused accomplice, Jeffrey Bradshaw, 20, is planning to take his murder case to trial.

The victim: Born in Syracuse, Tillie had 10 brothers and two sisters. He attended Henninger High School, left and later earned a GED diploma. Tillie co-owned a business with his cousin, detailing and selling cars. He had two daughters and a son. So many people came to Tillie's wake that the hours had to be extended, his brother, Odell Tillie said. "He was one of those people who really was a good dude."

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Photo: Facebook screenshot

14: Jose Vazquez

Name: Jose Vazquez

Age: 26

Date of death: June 9, 2016

The case: Vazquez was critically injured June 5 in an early morning shooting in the 100 block of Bishop Avenue. He never regained consciousness and died four days later in Upstate University Hospital. No arrests have been made.

The victim: Vazquez, of Syracuse, was a Fowler High School alumnus, according to his obituary. He is survived by a daughter and many other family members.

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Photo: Provided

15: Nathan Q. Chandler

Name: Nathan Q. Chandler (back, left)

Age: 34

Date of death: July 2, 2016

The case: Chandler was arguing with someone in Transitions 658 on North Salina Street the night of July 2, police said. The dispute spilled outside and Chandler was shot in the chest. Detectives interviewed numerous witnesses and police later charged Jaquey Bridges, 18, with murder. Bridges remains in the Onondaga County jail awaiting trial.

The victim: Chandler was born and raised in Syracuse. He had two brothers and one sister. He was working in construction and demolition, saving up money and "getting things on the right track," said Nathaniel Scott, his step-dad. Chandler had five children, the oldest being 13 years old.

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Photo: Provided

16: Jamall Kelly

Name: Jamall Kelly

Age: 29

Date of death: July 3, 2016

The case: Kelly went to Westcott Street on July 3 intending to get a late-night snack from a pizzeria for himself and his girlfriend, said Tiffany Jackson, his girlfriend and the mother of his only child. He was shot to death in the 500 block of Westcott Street. No arrests have been made.

The victim: Kelly, a Syracuse native, was a new father. His daughter, Journee D'Amore, was only 4 months old when he died. Kelly was delivering tires and working toward getting his commercial driver's license.

Jackson asked anyone with information about her boyfriend's death to come forward.

"If you’re a real person, have a heart. We just want justice for Jamall," she said. "Because at the end of the day, I have to explain this to his daughter."

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Photo: Provided

17: Anthony Ebron

Name: Anthony T. Ebron

Age: 21

Date of death: May 28, 2016

The case: Ebron had been hanging out with some friends at 183 Lakeview Ave. the night he was killed, his family said. He was found unconscious in the driveway of his friend's house with a gunshot wound to the head.

Ebron’s family does not know why he was killed, and police do not have any suspect information.

The victim: Ebron had gone to Frazer School and Fowler High School, but moved to North Carolina in 2010, his family said. He moved back to the city in 2014 and worked as a youth counselor for The Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse.

"He was a very outgoing person, calm, gentle, the peacemaker,” his niece Danylah Roberson said.

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18: Jamar Bachus

Name: Jamar Bachus (right)

Age: 23

Date of death: July 25, 2016

The case: Bachus was fatally shot in the back in the 200 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard. Less than an hour later, police arrested and charged two men with murdering Bachus and shooting another man in the hand during a drive-by shooting: Tyrae J. Tatum and Laquan O. Kitchen. Their cases are pending.

The victim: Bachus, an expectant father, was killed before he could meet his unborn child, his family said. The Syracuse man's brother, Howard Bachus, described his brother as a man who was not afraid to show affection in an environment where showing love is not considered "manly."

"Everybody knew him as a protector," Howard Bachus said of his brother in July. "He was such a loving person, but he didn't feel like he was getting that love back."

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19: Tyshawn Lemon

Name: Tyshawn R. "Tink" Lemon

Age: 18

Date of death: July 28, 2016

The case: Lemon was sitting with his girlfriend on her family's front porch July 28 on May Avenue when a car slowly pulled up with its lights off. Several shots rang out, hitting Lemon. He later died and no arrests have been made in the case. His girlfriend didn't see who was in the car and police have said they have only a possibly description of the suspect vehicle.

The victim: Lemon, who had four brothers and four sisters, graduated from Nottingham High School the month before he was killed. He and his girlfriend had started dating about two months before after meeting at a park. Lemon was planning to move to Maryland later in the summer, live with an aunt there and try to get into an electrician program at a community college there, his uncle Brian Rushing said. "A very promising young man lost his life and I don't know why," Rushing said. "I can't explain it."

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20: Gerald J. Solomon Jr.

Name: Gerald J. Solomon, Jr.

Age: 26

Date of death: Aug. 5, 2016

The case: Solomon was shot in the upper back July 28 on the 300 block of Coolidge Avenue, police said. He was taken to Upstate University Hospital and remained in critical condition for eight days before he died.

The victim: Solomon was a father of two -- a daughter and a son -- and was engaged to Nigeria Cole, according to his obituary. He had three sisters and two brothers.

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21: Sarah Brantley

Name: Sarah Brantley

Age: 60

Date of death: Aug. 16, 2016

The case: Brantley was beaten to death with a blunt object on Aug. 16 in her McCarthy Manor apartment at 501 S. Crouse Ave. Her son, Jamar Brown, 22, was charged with murder after he was captured on surveillance footage leaving his mother's apartment wearing bloody clothing and carrying a blunt object, police said in court records. During Brown's arraignment, a prosecutor asked a judge to order a mental health examination for Brown.

The victim: Brantley, a Tennessee native, had lived in Syracuse for about 30 years. Days before her death, Brantley told her brother Ned Cooper she was worried about Brown, who had recently spent time in a psychiatric hospital, Cooper told Syracuse.com in August. Despite her brother's warnings not to trust her son, Cooper said Brantley let Brown stay with her because she did not want him to end up on the streets.

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22 and 23: Vinroy Jr. and Chyna Baddal

Name: Vinroy Baddal Jr. and Chyna Baddal

Ages: 8, 4, respectively

Date of death: Sept. 1, 2016

The case: Vinroy and Chyna Baddal died when their home at 419 Pacific Ave. caught fire. The fire was started by a 12-year-old boy who lived in the house who had been playing with a lighter.

The boy who started the fire was charged in Family Court with arson and was sentenced to one year of probation, including continued counseling at Brownell Center for Behavioral Health, once a month doctor visits and other stipulations.

The victims: Vinroy Jr. had gone to school at Van Duyn Elementary, only a few blocks around the corner from where the family lived, and Chyna went to Webster Elementary School.

At the children’s joint funeral, young friends spoke about good times they had all shared. Many of the neighborhood children would go to the Baddal’s house after school to play. They said Chyna was just learning how to talk, and joked about Vinroy Jr. being slightly pigeon-toed.

"They've been stars in the middle of the darkness," the pastor said at the funeral. "Be encouraged when you go home, that not only did you have two children, you had two stars."

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24: Kimberly M. Rhoades

Name: Kimberly M. Rhoades

Age: 47

Date of death: Oct. 15, 2016

The case: Rhoades was attacked at her 134 Eureka Street home early on Oct. 14. Police said Kevin D. Johnson, 47, broke into her home and smashed her head and face into a concrete floor. Johnson, who had been to prison three times before, turned himself in. Rhoades died from her injuries the next day. Police said the two knew each other. Johnson remains in county jail without bail.

The victim: Rhoades, a Syracuse native, had two siblings. She went to Henninger High School and later earned a GED diploma. She worked as a cosmetologist. At the time of her death Rhoades, who married name was Kimberly Samson, had recently gotten divorced. She had three children.

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25: Iric Green

Name: Iric Green

Age: 35

Date of death: Oct. 29, 2016

The case: Green died early on Oct. 29 after he was shot in the head in the 200 block of McKinley Avenue. Two men -- Devar Williams, 32, and Jermaine Jennings, 31 -- were arrested days later and charged with murdering Green during an argument. The cases against both men are pending.

The victim: Green, father of seven boys, lived in Syracuse. Weeks before his death, his 8-year-old niece died. Green gave up his cemetery plot next to his mother for his niece's burial, family member Cheri Aikens said during a vigil for Green.

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26: Jesca Nyirakubanza

Name: Jesca Nyirakubanza

Age: 64

Date of death: Nov. 14, 2016

The case: Nyirakubanza suffered a fatal head wound when she was attacked Nov. 14 inside her 1406 Butternut St. home. Award Kabayiza, a 24-year-old Congolese refugee who lived on the same North Side street, was arrested shortly after and charged with Nyirakubanza's murder. His case is pending.

The victim: Nyirakubanza was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When her husband died in 1995, Nyirakubanza moved to a refugee camp in Uganda with her two children. Her family spent 19 years in the crowded camp -- surviving disease outbreaks and food shortages.

In March, Nyirakubanza and her son made a more than 7,000-mile journey to the United States in search of a better life, said Francis Ndagijeimana, Nyirakubanza's friend. She lived in Pennsylvania before settling in Syracuse in a community of refugees.

After a difficult life, Nyirakubanza felt hopeful about her new life in Syracuse, her friend said.

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27: Roy C. Neal Jr.

Name: Roy C. Neal, Jr.

Age: 27

Date of death: Nov. 21

The case: Neal was shot in the head around 8 p.m. Nov. 16 while along the 1700 block of East Fayette Street, near the corner of East Fayette and Columbus Avenue, police said. He died five days later after being in serious condition at Upstate University Hospital.

The victim: Neal's family said he made the decision to be an organ donor when he was 8 years old. After he was killed, two of his kidneys went to people in need across New York State.

His family has received more than 200 sympathy cards since his death, as both he and his family are well-known throughout the community. His mother is a retired Syracuse police officer and now works as a minister, and his father retired from Syracuse City School District but still goes back to tutor students.

Neal had plans to attend Onondaga Community College for culinary arts, his family said. He wanted to be a chef and was always grocery shopping and in the kitchen, according to the Neal family. His sister remembered some of his funnier recipes, like Fruity Pebble pancakes.

Neal has two sisters, one brother, and two twin daughters, according to his obituary. They're 6 years old.

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28: Edwin Oliveras

Name: Edwin Oliveras

Age: 54

Date of death: Nov. 23, 2016

The case: Police said they responded to 152 Lilac St. on Feb. 1, 2016, and found Oliveras unconscious. He had gotten into an altercation the day before and was hit in the head with a metal object, but because he did not appear seriously injured the incident was never reported, his family told officers.

The hit to the head had actually cracked his skull, causing blood to pool in his brain, court records showed. Oliveras' condition worsened until he eventually died months later on Nov. 23.

Officers did not announced Oliveras' death as a homicide until February 2017, after autopsy results showed he died from his head injury.

Ryan J. Brown, 29, of East Glen Avenue was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His bail was set at $250,000 cash bail or bond.

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29: Jonathan Diaz

Name: Jonathan Diaz

Age: 26

Date of death: Nov. 24, 2016

The case: Diaz and Sangsouriyanh Maniphonh got into a fight early Thanksgiving inside The Bar, an Armory Square bar. Maniphonh told police the argument started when he confronted Diaz about his former romantic relationship with Maniphonh's wife. The argument turned physical, and both men were kicked out of the bar, police said.

The men met again on South Clinton Street and resumed their fight, police said. Maniphonh pulled out a gun and fatally shot Diaz, police said -- shooting himself in the process. He was arrested on scene and is facing murder charges.

The victim: Diaz, of Camillus, graduated from Onondaga Central High School in 2008. He played on a championship-winning lacrosse team at Onondaga Community College before playing football at the SUNY College at Brockport. Before his death, Diaz worked with children at the Redhouse Arts Center, his family said.

Diaz loved animals and his family. The week of his death, he asked his mother to help look for a ring so he could propose to his girlfriend, his family said.

Evelyn Diaz said Thanksgiving -- the day her son died -- will never be the same.

"There will always be a missing place at the table," she said. "It will never get better."

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Photo: Facebook screenshot

30: Jason M. Davis

Name: Jason M. Davis

Age: 39

Date of death: Dec. 14

The case: Davis was shot in the back the evening of Dec. 14 while on the 100 block of Ballantyne Road near the Ballantyne Garden Apartments, police said. He was taken to Upstate University Hospital in a private vehicle where he later died.

Khani Johnson, 18, of Syracuse, was arrested in early February 2017 and charged with murder and attempted robbery for Davis' death. Police believe Johnson was trying to rob Davis of drugs and shot him when Davis tried to run away.

The victim: Davis was a North Syracuse father of three -- two boys and one girl -- and would regularly take them to play basketball in a local park, according to his obituary. He enjoyed watching football on Sundays and was a dedicated Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

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31: Michelle Paterson

Name: Michelle Paterson

Age: 44

Date of death: Dec. 22, 2016

The case: According to police, David Schmidinger called 911 on Dec. 22 and made a confession: He had just killed his girlfriend. When officers found the Baldwinsville man on Erie Boulevard East, he told them to check a nearby hotel, police said. Officers went to the Hampton Inn at 3017 Erie Blvd. E. and found Patterson dead inside a hotel room.

Paterson was beaten with a brick and strangled, police said. Schmidinger has been charged with her murder. His case is pending.

The victim: Paterson lived in Brampton, Ontario. She travelled from Canada to Syracuse two days before her death to visit Schmidinger -- her on-again, off-again boyfriend, police said.

Paterson is survived by a young daughter, her cousin Deborah Gruetzman said. She worked for the City of Brampton for 19 years, mostly recently serving as recreation facility clerk, city officials said in a statement reported by the Brampton Guardian.

Paterson was easy to like, her family said. She had her father's "contagious" smile and a passion for singing, her cousin Angie Messerschmidt said.

"She had one real strong love in her life: family," Messerschmidt said. "She would do anything for any one of us, that is just who she is."

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Photo: Dennis Nett | Syracuse.com

Do you have a tip about a homicide?

At the end of 2016, 14 of the year's homicides remained unsolved. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and Syracuse police urge anyone with information about a homicide to please contact the Syracuse police at (315) 442-5222 or submit tips anonymously through the SPD Tips app.