On the evening of Halloween in 2023, tragedy struck in West Memphis, Arkansas, forever altering the lives of a local family. Nineteen-year-old T’Kai Gardner, an African American male, was at a gas station on East Broadway when his life was cut short. The incident unfolded around 7:00 p.m., a time when the streets should have been filled with the cheerful sounds of trick-or-treaters, but instead were pierced by the sound of gunfire.
West Memphis Police officers were dispatched to the
100 block of East Broadway at approximately 7:08 p.m. following reports of shots being fired. Upon their arrival, they discovered a harrowing scene. T’Kai Gardner was found on the ground, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The officers immediately began administering life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel could take over. Gardner was rushed to Regional One Hospital, but despite the efforts to save him, his injuries proved to be fatal.
The investigation into the shooting was swift. Detectives with the West Memphis Police Department quickly began to piece together the events of that evening. Their work led them to identify a suspect in the case. The following day, on November 1st, investigators honed in on eighteen-year-old Joshua Millen, also a resident of West Memphis. Millen was taken into custody without incident, a significant development in a case that had shaken the community.
Following his arrest, Joshua Millen was charged with first-degree murder and committing a terroristic act. While an arrest has been made, the motive for the shooting has not been publicly disclosed by authorities. The investigation is considered to be ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact the West Memphis Police Department or Crittenden County Crime Stoppers to assist in bringing a full measure of justice for T’Kai Gardner.
