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#1 |
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Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Dec 01, 2016
Location: Virginia
Posts: 176
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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?
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#2 | |
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Member
Occasional Poster
Join Date: Feb 16, 2013
Location: Garner, NC
Posts: 78
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Quote:
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. |
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#3 |
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Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Dec 01, 2016
Location: Virginia
Posts: 176
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#4 |
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Member
Forum 3000 Club Member
Join Date: Apr 01, 2000
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 3,672
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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.
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#5 |
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Member
Occasional Poster
Join Date: Oct 10, 2005
Posts: 10
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#6 |
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#VLSKMS
Forum Fanatic
Join Date: Nov 22, 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 8,606
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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.
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#7 |
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Member
Occasional Poster
Join Date: Feb 16, 2013
Location: Garner, NC
Posts: 78
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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. |
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#8 | |
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Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Jun 28, 2018
Posts: 901
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Quote:
Robbery. Random crime. Reminds me of the Lee Selwyn case. It's POSSIBLE he knew his attackers, but.. I doubt it. |
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#9 |
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Here's the kicker Frank
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Sep 17, 2008
Location: For heaven's sake don't buy these coins
Posts: 248
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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. |
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#10 |
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Member
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 23, 2006
Location: England
Posts: 1,567
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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. |
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#11 |
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Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Apr 27, 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 396
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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. |
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Last edited by Latka Gravas; 12-09-2020 at 08:05 PM. |
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#12 | |
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Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Jun 28, 2018
Posts: 901
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Quote:
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. |
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#13 |
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Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Dec 24, 2009
Posts: 243
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I kind of lean towards robbery but there's not tons of evidence on this one. Hopefully they solve it one day
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#14 |
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Member
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 08, 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,066
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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.
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#15 | ||
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#VLSKMS
Forum Fanatic
Join Date: Nov 22, 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 8,606
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There was an interesting comment from someone claiming to know Michael left over at Unsolved.com:
Quote:
Quote:
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