In the early hours of a Sunday morning in August 2014, the life of 23-year-old Brittney Foster was tragically cut short in Columbus, Mississippi. The incident unfolded around 1 a.m. in the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 45 North, where Foster was an employee. Foster was shot multiple times and later died from her injuries at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle at 2:40 a.m.
The woman responsible for her death was 25-year-old Tarkesha Carter. Witnesses at the scene indicated that Carter and Foster were acquainted with each other. Following the shooting, Carter entered the restaurant and inquired about another female employee. She then pursued this employee out the back of the establishment, firing several shots that did not hit their mark. Carter was apprehended by police in the front parking lot of the restaurant shortly after.
Subsequent investigations and statements from Carter's family suggested that a love triangle was the motive behind the fatal shooting. Carter's mother and uncle indicated that Carter had been in a long-term relationship with the other female employee who she had chased. The woman who was targeted, however, denied being romantically involved with Carter and described the incident as an act of 'jealousy' over her friendship with Foster, with whom she was living at the time.
Tarkesha Carter was arrested and initially charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault. In February 2017, Carter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the shooting death of Brittney Foster. The district attorney consulted with Foster's family before the plea agreement was reached, aiming to bring them closure while ensuring a significant sentence for Carter.
