September 1, 2025 | By: Alex Barnhart

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Anthony ‘Nick’ Jones was 54 years old when he was gunned down on a quiet residential street in Inkster, Michigan. Described by family members as a hard-working, kind-hearted man of the community, Nick was murdered in an act of unthinkable violence.

Inkster, Michigan once hosted Malcolm X, the famous civil rights activist, at 4336 Williams Street in 1952. Today, the city ranks in the tenth percentile regarding safety, meaning that 90% of American cities are safer than Inkster. In fact, Crime Grade forecasts a grim $26 million in crime-related costs for city residents in 2025. In 2019, when Nick was murdered, statistics were similar; the crime rate in Inkster was and is higher than most U.S. cities today.

For some residents, though, the small city of Inkster is still their lifelong home. One such resident, Anthony Jones, known to his friends and family by his shortened middle name, Nick, was born and raised in Inkster. His mother purchased a home in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, a neighboring Inkster community. Nick attended Robichaud High School, where he graduated in 1983. He only left the city briefly to attend college at Alabama State. The next time he left home was after he was killed by a gunman, whose identity is still unknown.

On Saturday, August 31, 2019, Anthony ‘Nick’ Jones was passing through what locals call the upscale part of town, on Lehigh Street, near Princess Avenue. Authorities and family members believe Nick was perusing the neighborhood for a house to restore and flip, as he frequently renovated homes. At around 12:45 p.m., Nick crossed paths with an unknown man with a gun. After coming to a stop in his red Saturn, Nick was approached and then shot by the man, who later fled the scene in a red vehicle. Police were quickly at the scene, but a lack of evidence kept them from making any real progress in finding the killer.

The news came as a shock to friends and family who had only love, admiration, and respect for Nick. A man of the community and a man of God, Nick was taken from the world too soon, his family says. He leaves not only an empty seat at the family dinner table during holiday gatherings but an empty place in their hearts, all year round, a hole that can never again be filled by the warmth of Nick’s kindness and caring nature.

It’s not only the family dinner table that faces a void in Nick’s absence; it’s the whole Inkster community. Nick was heavily involved in various community service and outreach projects in the city. He especially loved working with youth, and he frequently did so at his church, the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. Nick’s uncle, Larry Spencer, proudly remembers the generosity of his nephew. Nick offered others his time and money without reservation. “He would give an enormous amount of time to youth and family programs in the community,” Larry said. Some of those activities included raising funds for children in the city through the local Toys for Tots initiatives and serving the homeless at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

Nick also volunteered his time by offering older individuals rides to services at his local church, where he faithfully served for 30 years, according to Larry. From the youngest in Inkster to the oldest, Nick did not merely speak kindness to others; he lived it. Nick found joy in helping people, Larry said. Though he never married or had children, he was deeply committed to others. At least two or three days a week, Nick found time to go to his church and attend its events, balancing his already busy work schedule.

He also had quite a creative mind—and he was able to express this talent through his videography and photography career. Nick was a gifted creator: He videotaped class reunions, birthday parties, weddings, and baby showers on occasion, capturing special moments for folks to remember and revisit in the future. According to Larry, he also worked the midnight shift at Inkster’s Chrysler dealership, making the most of his time so he could devote days to his videography studio work. Nick’s cousin, Barbara ‘Petie’ Cooper, and aunt, Martha Weber, agree that Nick was a perfectionist when it came to his work; he would take all the time he needed to explain everything he was going to do for his clients. They would even tell Nick to charge more. But for Nick, it wasn’t about the money; it was about helping others.

From a young age, Nick was an entrepreneurial spirit. Larry remembers Nick as a young teen. At just 15 years old, he was thinking about how to start a business for himself. He would rent out video game units at a lower price to others who couldn’t afford the regular price.

Nick always hoped his efforts would be profitable. But all he really cared about was that he could provide for his family. As anyone would, Nick wanted to make enough money. But his goal was to make sure that his mother, grandmother, and aunt were taken care of, according to Barbara and Martha.

Larry remembers one time Nick accepted a watch as payment for his videography services because that was all his client could pay at the time. Nick graciously took the watch. “I say to myself, now, you know, that’s a person who has a great heart, right?” Larry said. “That’s the kind of person he was, all his life. A giving, caring guy, you know. Last penny in his pocket, you didn’t even have to ask for it; if he thought you needed it, he would just give it to you.”

The events on the afternoon of August 31 were a surprise to Nick’s family and friends. Today, Larry described his memory and understanding of what happened to his beloved nephew as “foggy.” As he recalled the dark memories, Larry expressed his frustration with the case. The police had indeed made an arrest at one point, but the individual was released shortly after. Troubled by what happened, Larry contacted Crime Stoppers in hopes of finding justice for the dark crime that robbed his nephew of life. “Everybody will say what you want to hear, but you know, you don’t get a chance to actually see what you’re looking for, which is some type of form of justice,” Larry said.

Nick’s cousin Barbara and aunt Martha said they feel inspired by Nick to look beyond the horrific crime and reach for hope and forgiveness amid such darkness. “He was extraordinary,” Barbara said. Because of Nick’s kindness, Barbara said she prays for the man who did this to her cousin. “He would have forgiven him, and so that’s what my family is trying to do,” Barbara said.

“A jokester.” “A handsome man.” “A giving, caring guy.” Nick Jones’s family remembers him this way, in the fond memories of the time they shared together. The world lost more than just a talented creator, a hard-working entrepreneur, and a loving cousin, nephew, and son, though he certainly was all these things and more. The world lost a one-in-a-million, service-minded man who gave all he had to his community. “He was a giving man, from his heart,” said Larry.

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Anyone with information concerning Anthony “Nick” Jones’ unsolved homicide is asked to call the Michigan State Police at (734) 287-5000 or call the Inkster Police Department at (313) 563-9856. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers of Michigan at (800) 773-2587.

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