Man killed in Midtown shooting identified as father, veteran
Jan 20, 2025
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The wife of a man killed outside a Central Gardens house over the weekend identified him Monday as a 29-year-old father of four and military veteran.
Police responded to a deadly shooting at Linden and Pine around 2 a.m. Sunday.
Byron Gardner was the victim, said his wife Tangenika Gardner. She said the two had been high school sweethearts.
"A beautiful man, spirits was beautiful. He was the light in the room. He would be the person cheering me up right now," she said.
Man killed in Central Gardens shooting
Byron Gardner and his family (photos courtesy family)
Tangenika Gardner says her husband had no issues with anyone and does not think he was an intended target.
She says Byron was an aspiring firefighter, who also loved music. "He's an entertainer so he DJs, hosts, do music, all of that."
He was shot while he was loading up his DJ equipment, and died later at the hospital, she said. She didn't notice anyone fighting when the shots went off.
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Neighbors say the house was a short-term rental that was being used for a party.
Gardner says she wants anyone who might know anything to think of the family, and the four children her husband now leaves behind.
"There was a lot of people out there, and when I was asking for help, instead of y'all helping, y'all drove off," she said. "So God gonna get y'all. And my husband is one person, that I know, he didn't do anything, and if you wasn't trying to intentionally hurt him, just come forward. God will give you grace."