In the late hours of May 7, 2025, a verbal dispute at the second boat launch of Lock 4 Park in Gallatin, Tennessee, tragically cut short the life of 30-year-old Miles Hanna. A white male known for his kind heart and ever-present smile, Hanna was a talented mechanic who was always willing to lend a hand to others. Friends and family remember him as a friendly and generous person who had a gift for making everyone feel welcome.
On that Wednesday night, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Gallatin Police Department officers were dispatched to the park after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered Miles Hanna deceased at the scene. The investigation that followed indicated that an argument between Hanna and another individual had escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting.
The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Will Wheatley. He was taken into custody by the Gallatin Police Department in connection with the shooting. Following a thorough investigation into the incident, Will Wheatley was formally charged with manslaughter. It was later revealed that Hanna and Wheatley had attended high school together.
The news of Miles Hanna's death sent shockwaves through the community, leaving his family and friends in deep mourning. He is survived by his parents, Melinda and Denny Hanna, his brother, Rivers Hanna, and his grandfather, Thomas Williams, among other relatives and a multitude of friends who cherished him. His faithful canine companion, Oscar, was also left behind. A Celebration of Life was held on May 17, 2025, at Sellars Family Heritage in Gallatin, where those whose lives he had touched gathered to remember and honor him. The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information to come forward.
