The shooting happened late Sunday night at an apartment building on Niagara Avenue near Wheatley Avenue, just a couple blocks off North Main Street.
Officers said they received calls that a man had been shot on the second floor of the apartment building. Police said they located Gates on the living room floor of apartment 23 with at least one gunshot wound to his chest.
Dayton Fire Department paramedics responded to Niagara Avenue and carried him down from the second floor and across the sidewalk to a waiting stretcher. He was then taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where doctors were unable to save his life.
Homicide detectives were called to the scene to help investigate. They searched inside the apartment and outside the building for clues and evidence as to what might have led to the gunfire.
Police said they have not yet found a motive for the shooting.
Lt. Brian Johns said, "At this point, no drugs were found in the apartment and no weapons, we're pretty much unclear as to why it occurred."
Investigators said they did not have any witnesses, but police did say that one person saw a man running away after the gunfire.
The man is described as being between the ages of 18 and 30 and wearing a tan jacket.
No arrests have been made.