In the late autumn of 2019, the life of a beloved member of the Chattanooga community was tragically cut short. Floyd E. Preston, a 70-year-old African American man, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019, in a violent encounter at his own home. A retired employee of Parkridge Hospital and Superior Catering Company, Preston was a familiar and respected figure in his Alton Park neighborhood, where he was an active member of the Alton Park Church of Christ.
Those who knew him remembered him as a man who had deep roots in the community, having attended Riverside High School.
The circumstances of his death were particularly heartbreaking as the investigation quickly focused on a member of his own family. On the day of the fatal incident, neighbors on Dogwood Drive reported hearing a gunshot. Responding to the scene, law enforcement discovered Floyd E. Preston had been shot. The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of his then 68-year-old brother, Marvin Preston.
Marvin Preston was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide in connection with his brother's death. Investigators found him in possession of two handguns, a 9mm and a 40 caliber. A spent shell casing was recovered near Floyd's body, a grim piece of evidence in the unfolding family tragedy. While Marvin Preston initially denied any involvement in the shooting, he later made statements that incriminated him. The case was ultimately bound over to the Grand Jury, with his bond being set at a substantial $1 million, reflecting the serious nature of the charge against him. The violent end to Floyd E. Preston's life sent ripples of shock and sorrow through his family and the wider Chattanooga community.
