A beloved son and lifelong resident of Columbia County, Tad Leonard Anderson, Jr., a 35-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The incident occurred in White Springs, Florida, at a city-approved block party that had started the previous day.
In the early morning hours, at approximately 12:53 a.m., deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunshots in the vicinity of Mill Street and Adams Memorial Drive.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Anderson unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of the deputies and responding Hamilton County Fire Rescue personnel, Anderson succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the shooting as a homicide. In the days following the event, the White Springs Town Council publicly condemned the violence. During a special meeting, a local resident raised questions regarding the proper permitting and adherence to requirements for the block party. The town manager acknowledged that not all neighborhood residents had signed off on the event.
As of now, the investigation into Tad Anderson's death is ongoing. Authorities have not released any information regarding potential suspects or any arrests made in connection with the case. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office encourages anyone with information to come forward to assist in their investigation.
