In the early morning hours of September 14, 2020, Randal Chayne Cardwell, a 44-year-old Caucasian male, was at work on his delivery route in Memphis, Tennessee. A dedicated driver for Performance Food Group, he was known as a hardworking family man. On this particular morning, while stopped outside Jack Pirtle's restaurant in South Memphis, his life was tragically cut short.
He was found deceased inside his vehicle, the victim of a fatal shooting.
The investigation into his death quickly moved forward. Surveillance footage from the area captured a suspect approaching Cardwell's truck from behind. The same individual was then seen fleeing the scene in a blue two-door sedan. This crucial piece of evidence, coupled with an anonymous tip, led law enforcement to a residence where they would find their suspect.
Three days after the incident, on September 17, 2020, police arrested 22-year-old Tanner Bolding. A search of the residence where Bolding was located produced a handgun and spent cartridges. During questioning, Bolding admitted to his involvement in the crime, stating that he had shot Cardwell during an attempted robbery. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in perpetration of robbery and taken into custody. The community and Cardwell's family were left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of a man described as a wonderful and loving father.