There is not much info on this case. Michael Hunter went out to ride his motorcycle or Suzuki and was found murdered. What do you think the most likely motive was?

There is not much info on this case. Michael Hunter went out to ride his motorcycle or Suzuki and was found murdered. What do you think the most likely motive was?
Accidental shooting.

I think someone was out shooting a gun and the bullet hit him. I'm not convinced that the person knows that they shot him.

Accidental shooting.

I think someone was out shooting a gun and the bullet hit him. I'm not convinced that the person knows that they shot him.

Interesting theory. That would make sense.

I think it was the theory brought up in the segment. Someone wanted his motorcycle and when Michael didn't comply, the person shot him. He drove off to get help. Absolute wrong place at the wrong time.

Accidental shooting.

I think someone was out shooting a gun and the bullet hit him. I'm not convinced that the person knows that they shot him.

The bullet? He was shot three times.

Robbery, IMO. He went to an ATM shortly before he was shot. His killer thought he either got large money out, or demanded he go back to get more (like Matthew Chase). The bike was probably an added bonus to the killer.

The bullet? He was shot three times.

I must have mis-remembered. I'll stick with my original theory, as it would't be that hard for someone a good distance away to aim at him (not realizing it's a human) and hit several times. It is more unlikely, however.

It just doesn't make a lot of sense to think that he was in a remote area and encountered someone who shot him because they wanted to rob him, and then let him drive off on his motorcycle. If this did happen then I think he knew the person who shot him and he was not expecting to get shot.

I must have mis-remembered. I'll stick with my original theory, as it would't be that hard for someone a good distance away to aim at him (not realizing it's a human) and hit several times. It is more unlikely, however.

It just doesn't make a lot of sense to think that he was in a remote area and encountered someone who shot him because they wanted to rob him, and then let him drive off on his motorcycle. If this did happen then I think he knew the person who shot him and he was not expecting to get shot.

Well, let's poke another hole in the theory. Shot three times with small caliber bullets. We're talking a .22 or similar. You're not hitting someone three times from 'far away' with a .22 or any other small caliber weapon. While it's not said specifically, it seems a handgun was used, too, so.. It was rather close up.

Robbery. Random crime. Reminds me of the Lee Selwyn case. It's POSSIBLE he knew his attackers, but.. I doubt it.

Was it confirmed that he was indeed robbed of his wallet/cash? I assume so? It is mentioned on Unsolved.com and the Wiki that the police theory is that he was robbed of the wallet, then there was possibly a demand for the bike. If their theory is based on the wallet being stolen, I would hope it was indeed missing and not found on him.

If so, then it's a robbery gone wrong.

There seem only two possible scenarios-

1. It was a robbery gone wrong-he either put up a fight/tried to flee, the perp was pissed at the lack of money/demanded his bike, or got an itchy trigger.

2. He was buying drugs & got double-crossed somehow, but this seems highly unlikely as he withdrew 20 bucks for whisky, although it is possible he had money on him already to make the buy.

There is also this theory advanced last year-no idea if it is credible or not.

I use to work with Micheal at Honda Kawasaki of Oakland. I got the call from Beverley the next morning, informing us at the dealership of what happened. I’m pretty sure that this was payback from some guys who were in an Asian gang.

A year or so prior to his murder Micheal was drinking and driving and had accidentally side swiped a few cars belonging to some gang members while leaving a party. A few days before his murder one of the gang members had come into the dealership to have a motorcycle serviced. He took notice that Micheal was one of the mechanics, he was surprised to see Micheal and said out loud, ” oh **** that’s the guy”. A few days later Micheal was dead. I told all of this to the Emeryville PD but I guess they couldn’t get anywhere with it.

I suspect the motive behind the Michael Hunter murder was just what it appeared to be, i.e. an attempted robbery gone wrong. I suspect that some criminal(s) wanted his nice Suzuki, and when he wouldn't give it up - they shot him. He rode away to get help, but was fatally wounded & died soon after.

The other possibility is a random shooting, but given that the bike Hunter was riding was so expensive-looking/classy, the robbery theory sounds more credible.

Unlike some other crimes featured on UM that have some evidence left behind (DNA, other physical evidence, etc.) and therefore are solved (or have some chance of being solved eventually), it doesn't appear that there is any evidence or clues in this case. So, I don't see this ever being solved...barring the unlikely event that the guilty person/persons come forward.

I suspect the motive behind the Michael Hunter murder was just what it appeared to be, i.e. an attempted robbery gone wrong. I suspect that some criminal(s) wanted his nice Suzuki, and when he wouldn't give it up - they shot him. He rode away to get help, but was fatally wounded & died soon after.

The other possibility is a random shooting, but given that the bike Hunter was riding was so expensive-looking/classy, the robbery theory sounds more credible.

Unlike some other crimes featured on UM that have some evidence left behind (DNA, other physical evidence, etc.) and therefore are solved (or have some chance of being solved eventually), it doesn't like there is any evidence/clues in this case - so I don't see this ever being solved...barring the unlikely event that the guilty person/persons come forward.

History is littered with people who just couldn't keep their mouths shut.

So, unless this was a guy alone who murdered him (Possible) and never told another soul about it, which, seems the antithesis of a gang member (Tying in to the other theory from above).. There's a good chance of someone talking or spreading rumors that have alot of truth in them.

That being said.. nearly 30 years later.. I think we would have heard of some more of those rumors by now.

I kind of lean towards robbery but there's not tons of evidence on this one. Hopefully they solve it one day

Amazing to me that there is next to nothing online about this man's murder. It could very well be a clear cut case of a robbery gone wrong, but I wish there was more out there about this case.

There was an interesting comment from someone claiming to know Michael left over at Unsolved.com:

I use to work with Micheal at Honda Kawasaki of Oakland. I got the call from Beverley the next morning, informing us at the dealership of what happened. I’m pretty sure that this was payback from some guys who were in an Asian gang. A year or so prior to his murder Micheal was drinking and driving and had accidentally side swiped a few cars belonging to some gang members while leaving a party. A few days before his murder one of the gang members had come into the dealership to have a motorcycle serviced. He took notice that Micheal was one of the mechanics, he was surprised to see Micheal and said out loud, ” oh that’s the guy”. A few days later Micheal was dead. I told all of this to the Emeryville PD but I guess they couldn’t get anywhere with it.

Another commenter replies (two years later):

Please contact me on my Facebook. Rocky wingwalker. I cannot do anything without your full name. I know the incident you’re referring to. I don’t believe or recall any of the other cars being gang related. If you have more info please contact me.

Seems plausible to me.

There was an interesting comment from someone claiming to know Michael left over at Unsolved.com:



Another commenter replies (two years later):



Seems plausible to me.

I assume that incident was reported to the police and hopefully followed up on.

I remember seeing where someone posted that claimed to know him. I can't remember all the details but they made it sound like someone had a grudge against him.

I used to think it was a robbery since he went to the ATM first. I figured someone was watching and then followed to where he parked, but if the person is correct it sounds like it was planned.

Maybe it will be solved

I remember seeing where someone posted that claimed to know him. I can't remember all the details but they made it sound like someone had a grudge against him.

I used to think it was a robbery since he went to the ATM first. I figured someone was watching and then followed to where he parked, but if the person is correct it sounds like it was planned.

Maybe it will be solved

Just to contradict what i've said elsewhere in this topic..

One thing I will note.. If this were to have something to do with gangs.. While my whole thing about people not being able to keep their mouths shut remains true.. The caveat to that is that gang members don't exactly have long lifespans to run their mouths.

You look at the Tupac murder.. Even that, which has quite a number of gang members suspected.. Who are all dead and were dead quickly after the murder.. There's still the rumors/suspicions/word of mouth floating around. Can't be proven, but..

Was it ever fully explained why the police theorized that Michael was accosted/shot on the frontage road? It just seemed odd that the centerpiece of the segment was entirely hypothetical, but I suppose there wasn't much else to go on.

Definitely a sad one. You could feel how much Michael was loved by his friends and family. The detective seemed to have a great deal of respect and empathy for Michael as well. Unfortunately the circumstances all but guaranteed this one remaining unsolved.

A couple things to consider is that the UM re-creation is "pure conjecture" (their words). There was no evidence found that the frontage road was the crime scene. The frontage scene made good tv story-telling, but is likely a red herring. If we knew the crime scene, it might help inform some theories. His aorta was hit by a bullet...it's likely he couldn't have ridden very far (Frontage Road was 3 miles away). Anything could have happened between the liquor store and the gas station.

Also, the motorcycle was a Honda VFR Interceptor. I've seen people mis-identify it as a Suzuki. It was a sport bike some might have wanted to steal back in the '80's.

He was held up at gunpoint (probably for the bike or the money someone just saw him withdraw), he tried to outrun with his bike and was shot from behind. Hopefully whoever killed him is either dead or incarcerated for other crimes.