In the early morning hours of January 8, 2020, 30-year-old Dajuante Stuart, a male truck driver from Hermitage, Tennessee, was found deceased in the cab of his semi-truck. His vehicle was parked alongside Interstate 269 in a suburban area of eastern Shelby County. An initial investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office revealed that Stuart had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and his death was quickly ruled a homicide.
Detectives utilized video footage from a camera inside Stuart's truck, which proved to be a critical piece of evidence in the investigation. The video showed another man, later identified as James K. Huddleston, 27, of Millington, interacting with Stuart before the two entered the sleeper area of the cab. Shortly after, the sound of gunshots is audible on the recording. The video then captured Huddleston exiting the truck and walking away from the scene. This footage led authorities to identify Huddleston as the primary suspect.
Following the release of a description of the person of interest, Huddleston surrendered to authorities on January 9, 2020. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Stuart's death. In March 2021, a grand jury indicted Huddleston on the charge of first-degree murder. He was being held in the Shelby County Jail.
