In the early morning hours of February 6, 2021, a night out for three friends in McMinnville, Tennessee, ended in tragedy. Javier Dante Wiley, a 30-year-old Black male and a respected U.S. Army ammunition specialist, was shot and killed. The events leading to his death began after Wiley and his friends, James Garrett and his wife Megan, returned to the Garretts' residence on Fair Street after visiting several bars in Murfreesboro.
An argument that started between Wiley and James Garrett
on the drive back from Murfreesboro escalated into a physical altercation when they pulled over. Although they continued their journey back to McMinnville, the dispute reignited once they arrived at Garrett's home. Garrett demanded that Wiley leave his property. When Wiley refused, Garrett retrieved an AR-15 rifle from inside his house. He again warned Wiley to leave, and when Wiley reportedly charged at him, Garrett opened fire. Wiley was struck by the gunfire and was transported by emergency services to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting led to the immediate arrest of James Tyler Garrett. He was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide for the death of his friend. Garrett was subsequently held at the Warren County Jail without bond. The case proceeded through the legal system, concluding with Garrett pleading guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. For his role in the death of Javier Dante Wiley, James Tyler Garrett was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison.
Javier Dante Wiley was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command, having served three tours in Iraq and Syria. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 17, 1990. His funeral was held with full military honors, and his death was a significant loss to his family, including his young daughter and mother, as well as the community that remembered his service to his country.
