In the early hours of August 3, 2021, a 37-year-old man named Edward Melton was fatally shot in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The incident occurred in the 700 block of West Main Street, where a man reportedly approached Melton and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. Melton was transported to a local hospital but did not survive his injuries.
The Chattanooga Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting.
Their efforts were aided by video evidence that partially captured the events. The footage showed a black Honda Accord arriving in a parking lot, from which a man in a white shirt exited and approached Melton just before the shots were fired. This vehicle was later located by authorities and taken in for processing.
More than a month after the shooting, on September 13, 2021, the investigation led to an arrest. Police took 38-year-old Deangelo Ballard into custody in connection with Melton's death. Ballard was subsequently charged with several offenses, including first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, unlawful possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Silverdale Detention Facility.
