In the spring of 2015, the life of 19-year-old Craig Lambert, a student at Tennessee State University, was cut short in a Nashville park. The young man, a male, was with a group of fellow students in Hadley Park on the night of May 30, 2015, when he suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The events of that night were initially shrouded in conflicting accounts, with one of the students present, Kennedy Lanier, first telling a 911 operator that Craig had been the victim of a drive-by
shooting. She later altered her story, claiming that he had accidentally shot himself. These initial reports painted a confusing picture for investigators trying to piece together the final moments of Craig's life.
As the investigation into Craig's death deepened, a more complex and troubling narrative emerged. It was revealed that Craig and five other TSU students, including Brandon Horton, Kennedy Lanier, Brittany Redmond, Darren Terrell, and Kylan Vinson, had gathered at the park with the intention of robbing a drug dealer. Three of the students, including Craig and Brandon Horton, were armed. According to the testimony of the other students, while they were in a pavilion, they heard Brandon Horton's gun fall to the ground, followed by a single gunshot. None of the witnesses claimed to have seen which of the three firearms present discharged the fatal shot that struck Craig. In the immediate aftermath, panic and fear seemed to take over. Darren Terrell laid Craig on the grass before he, along with Horton and Vinson, fled back to their dorm, where they disposed of the guns, which were never found by law enforcement. Only Kennedy Lanier remained at the scene to call for help.
The investigation led to the arrest of Brandon Horton, who was charged in connection with Craig Lambert's death. Initially facing a serious charge of first-degree murder, the case against him went to trial. During the legal proceedings, the charge was reduced to reckless homicide by Criminal Court Judge Seth Norman. The trial brought all the surviving students to the witness stand, each recounting their version of the chaotic and tragic events that transpired in Hadley Park. Ultimately, the jury deliberated for a mere 25 minutes before reaching a verdict. In July 2017, Brandon Horton was acquitted of the reckless homicide charge, leaving the family of Craig Lambert with lingering questions and no legal closure in the death of their loved one.
