In the winter of 2019, the life of 22-year-old Lyonnel Gladden, a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was tragically cut short. On the evening of Sunday, December 8th, gunfire erupted at the Bayberry Apartments on Wilson Street, a scene that would end in the loss of two young lives. Gladden, along with 23-year-old Hollis Malone, was fatally wounded in what authorities would describe as a triple shooting, an event that also left a third individual injured.
The investigation into the
double homicide quickly led to a suspect, Dezmon Gladden, the victim's own cousin. Within days of the shooting, Dezmon was taken into custody and faced a litany of serious charges, including two counts of criminal homicide, attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and reckless endangerment. The familial connection between the victim and the alleged perpetrator added a layer of complexity and sorrow to the unfolding tragedy.
During a preliminary hearing, further details of the night's events began to emerge. A witness testified to seeing Dezmon Gladden at the apartment complex and recounted hearing an altercation prior to the fatal shots being fired. According to this testimony, the witness heard a commotion and then saw Dezmon Gladden, though the witness did not see the shooting itself. This testimony, however, was enough for the judge to find probable cause to bind the case over to a grand jury.
In the same court proceeding, the judge denied bond for Dezmon Gladden, citing the serious nature of the charges and the potential threat to the community. This decision meant he would remain in custody as he awaited the next steps in the legal process. The case then moved to the Hamilton County Grand Jury for consideration of an indictment, a crucial step toward a potential trial. Information regarding a subsequent trial and conviction is not readily available in online sources.
