As a popular chef in Baltimore, Michael Bates served up fine food at the former Phaze 10 restaurant, Brew House 16 and most recently launched his own catering service.
Now it's his friends and former patrons who are serving up memories of one of Baltimore's latest homicide victims.
"Most people are probably going to miss his personality,” said a former co-worker, Chaka McFail, “He was nice, kind... he was funny and working with him, he was hilarious. He would always have you laughing. There was never a dull moment."
Police say Bates was sitting in his car in the 4600 block of Pen Lucy Road about 2:30 in the morning Wednesday when three armed men approached and announced a robbery.
Bates raised his hands in the air to comply and one of them shot him in the neck
The next day there were visible signs of where he suffered a tremendous loss of blood as he ran into a nearby building. He later died at an area hospital.
His murder has had a personal impact on the police department's Chief of Media Relations, T.J. Smith.
"He was a popular chef in Baltimore and I personally know people who knew him and know of him,” said Smith, “Ironically, I was looking at his Facebook page and he had just posted something about "300 Men" here in Baltimore – We must stop killing each other."
It's a case, which once again leaves law enforcers asking for the public's help.
"We get to that point where enough has to be enough and people have to be upset and outraged," said Smith.
And it's a case, which serves as yet another stark reminder of the danger, which lurks in this city.
"You just got to keep praying and trusting in God to be honest,” said McFail, “That's all I do is just pray every day... pray every day you wake up... and tell you loved ones that you love them because you never know who could be next."
Bates' murder comes on the heels of a fatal stabbing, which claimed the life of a Morgan State student on Loch Raven Boulevard earlier this week.
If you have any information, which could help police in either case, you can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.
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