Johnny L. Sanders, a 40-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on May 8, 2016, while working as a bouncer at the Bella Vita Restaurant on Cowart Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee. An altercation had broken out inside the establishment, and Sanders escorted a patron involved in the fight outside. Once outside, the patron shot Sanders once. Despite receiving immediate medical attention and being transported to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The man identified as
the shooter was 31-year-old Andrew Wilson Jr. He was taken into custody by police shortly after the incident. Wilson was subsequently charged with criminal homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the death of Sanders.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that Wilson had a prior criminal record. In 2013, he had been charged with the shooting death of another individual, Desmond McClure, though he had claimed self-defense in that case. The community mourned the loss of Sanders, who was remembered as a veteran and a dedicated father.
