In the early morning hours of March 6, 2021, a hardworking Memphis business owner’s life was tragically cut short. Gerald Dewayne Stewart, a 50-year-old African American man, was the respected owner and operator of Best Deal Auto. That fateful Saturday, at approximately 4:15 a.m., an alarm at his mechanic shop on Elmore Road was triggered, prompting him to go and investigate a possible break-in.
Upon arriving at his business, Stewart confronted suspects who were in the process of
stealing catalytic converters from vehicles on his property. The confrontation took a fatal turn when one of the suspects produced a firearm and shot Stewart multiple times. His girlfriend arrived at the scene and attempted to perform CPR, but his injuries were too severe. Gerald Stewart was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Memphis Police Department launched a homicide investigation and released surveillance footage showing the suspects escaping the scene in a white mid-size vehicle. Despite the available footage and public appeals for information, no arrests have been made in the case. The investigation into the murder of Gerald Stewart remains ongoing as his family and community continue to await justice. His death has been further complicated by legal disputes over his estate.
