In the pre-dawn hours of July 17, 2021, the sound of gunshots shattered the quiet of a Gainesville, Georgia neighborhood. Responding to a call just after 2 a.m., Hall County sheriff's deputies discovered the body of 21-year-old Qualyn Deshunte Tanner behind a residence on Wade Drive off of East Ridge Road. An African American male, Tanner had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was subsequently sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for an autopsy.
Known affectionately as 'Quay,' Qualyn was remembered for his cheerful disposition and his love for cooking, with aspirations of one day becoming a chef. Friends and family recalled his infectious smile, his willingness to help others, and his playful and caring nature. He was described as intelligent with a great deal of potential.
The investigation into Tanner's death quickly led authorities to a suspect, 32-year-old Daniel Guerrero of Gainesville. Investigators identified Guerrero as the alleged shooter and located him several hours later, around 8:30 a.m., walking along Interstate 985. Guerrero was taken into custody without incident and was subsequently charged with malice murder.
In a surprising turn during a court hearing in August 2021, a Hall County Sheriff's investigator testified that Guerrero claimed Tanner had been asking him to kill him for weeks. Despite this claim, the case proceeded, and on September 15, 2021, a grand jury indicted Daniel Guerrero on murder charges in connection with Qualyn Tanner's death. The investigation into the shooting remained ongoing by the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
