In the winter of 2016, a night out in Memphis, Tennessee, turned tragic for 43-year-old Alvin Hart, a beloved master barber known for his skill and kindness. On the evening of Wednesday, December 14th, Hart was at the O'Cielo Mexican Bar and Grill on American Way. The popular establishment, known to have a lively party atmosphere, became the scene of chaos when a dispute erupted. A group of individuals who were denied entry into the crowded restaurant reportedly began to argue, and the confrontation quickly escalated.
From the parking lot, at least two people opened fire into the restaurant. In the midst of the gunfire, an unregistered security guard working at the establishment, David Alexander, drew his own weapon and returned fire. Tragically, the shots fired by Alexander did not hit the initial shooters but instead struck two innocent bystanders. One of those was Alvin Hart, who was fatally wounded. Another man was critically injured in the crossfire. According to Hart's son, his father was leaving the restaurant when the shooting began.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Memphis Police Department investigated what was the city's 219th homicide of that year. While the original shooters who instigated the incident reportedly fled the scene and remained at large, authorities arrested David Alexander. He was subsequently charged with reckless homicide, aggravated assault, and acting as a security guard without a proper registration card. News of Alvin Hart’s death sent ripples of shock and grief through the community, with many taking to social media to share fond memories of the father and grandfather who had been a fixture in their lives.
