New details emerge following deadly shooting in Columbia neighborhood
WARNING: This article contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Arrest documents describe a chaotic scene as two people were shot and killed in a suburban Columbia neighborhood last weekend.
Officers were called to the 3000 block of Somerset Lane just after 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. Byron Childers is accused of shooting three people, 46-year-old John Bidle, 51-year-old Stacie Wright and a man driving an ice cream truck.
Bidle died at the scene while Wright was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she died in surgery. The ice cream truck driver was shot in the hip and also taken to Vanderbilt for treatment.
1 charged after 2 killed, 1 injured in Columbia shooting
According to court documents, Childers was walking down Somerset Lane with a rifle when he shot Bidle while calling him a demon. Childers reportedly shot Bidle multiple times as he was lying in the roadway while shouting 'Demon from Hell' and 'it was safe now.'
As Bidle lay wounded, Wright opened the door of her nearby home once she heard the gunshots. Childers walked toward her front doorway and shot Wright several times, which was witnessed by her husband inside the home, according to court documents.
The man driving the ice cream truck told officers he saw Childers with an AR-style rifle and a pistol with suppressors on both firearms. He said once he spotted Childers, he heard gunshots and was struck in his hip. Multiple bullet holes were found in the side door of the ice cream truck.
Suspected gunman identified after 2 killed, 1 injured in Columbia neighborhood
A Metro Nashville officer who lived in the area drove over to the scene after he heard gunshots. According to court documents, Childers jumped into the officer's vehicle, punched him in the face and attempted to grab the steering wheel. The officer, who was off-duty, grabbed his service weapon as Childers ran away from the vehicle. Childers was soon taken into custody by Columbia officers.
Childers was booked into the Maury County jail and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, carjacking, assault, and use of a firearm in a dangerous felony. Records show he is being held without bond.
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Battle Creek Middle School is offering counselors, support staff and any additional resources to the community. Anyone may visit Battle Creek Middle School, located at 121 Battle Creek Way, on June 3 and June 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
'Maury County Public Schools offers its deepest sympathy to the families impacted by this senseless act of violence,' said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Ventura. 'Now is the time to come together, and love and support one another. It is my hope that anyone that needs support will take advantage of our staff at Battle Creek Middle School.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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