In the crisp autumn air of a Roanoke night, the life of 30-year-old Chad Erndt was tragically cut short. On the evening of Saturday, October 5, or early morning of Sunday, October 6, 2019, Erndt was fatally shot in a parking lot near W.R. Brews on Williamson Road. When Roanoke Police responded to reports of gunfire shortly before midnight, they discovered Erndt with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing a volley of approximately ten gunshots.
Chad Erndt, born on August 23, 1989, was a Roanoke native who had attended Patrick Henry High School. Friends remembered him as a vibrant and outgoing individual, often the life of the party, who had a knack for cheering people up. He was a loving father to his daughter, Jessika. His death left his family and a wide circle of friends heartbroken and searching for answers.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Roanoke Police Department launched an investigation into Erndt's death, confirming it as a homicide. Despite the ongoing investigation and appeals to the public for information, no immediate arrests were made in connection with the shooting. Authorities stated that they did not believe there was a further danger to the community, clarifying that this assessment was based on the scene being secured. The case remains an active investigation, with law enforcement encouraging anyone with information to come forward. A GoFundMe campaign was established to assist his family with funeral expenses.
