Aaron Tigner, a 28-year-old Black man from Dayton, Ohio, was a father to six daughters, all under the age of ten. His family described him as someone who had his whole life ahead of him and meant a lot to many people. "He really had a community behind him," his sister Ashley Hall said after his death. Another sister, Mikely Hall, said, "I know that my brother didn’t deserve this."
The family was rocked by his sudden loss, which Ashley Hall said would be "a major impact for my family."
In the early hours of Saturday, March 9, 2024, Tigner and a friend were out in Dayton. They had spent time at Partners bar on Patterson Road before crossing the street to another establishment, the Brewski Barrel. Tigner's family believes a confrontation took place there between Tigner and another man. Later, around 1:30 a.m., Tigner and his friend closed their tab and began walking back toward Partners, where they had parked their car. It was then that shots were fired.
A witness who was outside heard two men arguing and thought a fight was about to start. Instead, he saw a gun drawn and heard several shots. People scattered from the bar, and Tigner was found on the ground, bleeding from at least one gunshot wound. Medics rushed him to Miami Valley Hospital, but he died from his injuries. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his identity. The witness told authorities he saw the shooter run to his car and put the gun in his pocket before leaving the scene.
The Dayton Police Department investigated the shooting and identified Deniro Barker, a 32-year-old man from Dayton, as a suspect. On April 9, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Barker on charges of two counts of murder and four counts of felonious assault. He was taken into custody two days later, on April 11, by the U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team and Dayton police. The case against Barker proceeded to trial, where he was ultimately convicted for the murder of Aaron Tigner. He was sentenced to serve 24 years to life in prison.
