Latest news with #ByronChilders
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man shot while delivering ice cream in Columbia neighborhood
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man shot while serving ice cream in a Columbia neighborhood shared his story with News 2. Byron Childers has been accused of fatally shooting two of his neighbors before turning the gun on ice cream truck driver Mandu Johnson. RELATED: Suspect in Columbia double homicide speaks from jail Johnson said that he runs the ice cream truck as a side business. It had been a good Saturday until he saw something that terrified him. 'He had a pistol in one hand and a rifle in the other hand,' Mandu said. 'I thought, 'Man, that's weird.'' Childers allegedly shot and killed 46-year-old and 51-year-old 'I feel a round go through the truck and hit me,' Mandu said. 'It tears into my body.' Although Johnson was hurt, he drove to his house before parking on his lawn and jumping out of the truck. His wife, Adrienne Johnson, and his children were there when Johnson arrived. 'I heard the music from the truck pull in the yard and thought, 'Wow, he must have had a great day selling ice cream. He's home early,'' Adrienne said. 'That was not the case.' Mandu was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Though he's been able to start recovering from his injuries, the Johnsons recognized that not all of their neighbors were so lucky. 'He took lives and he's changed ours and it's horrible. It's absolutely horrific,' Adrienne said. 'I am so sad for what those families have gone through.' When News 2 spoke with Childers, he did not provide any motive for the shootings. As of publication, he's being held without bond. Mandu told News 2 that he's a former Marine. 'I survived two war zones — Iraq and Afghanistan — to get shot in a neighborhood, a residential neighborhood, back home,' Mandu said. 'It's kind of ironic.' Mandu said that as soon as he's recovered, he plans to be back in his truck selling ice cream. PREVIOUS: New details emerge following deadly shooting in Columbia neighborhood 'I am going to keep the bullet holes in there just to let the guy know he couldn't stop me,' Mandu said. Mandu has an upcoming surgery to get a second bullet removed. It's taken an emotional and financial toll on the family. If you want to donate to a GoFundMe to support Mandu, you can Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Suspect in Columbia double homicide speaks from jail
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man accused of killing two of his neighbors, seemingly at random, spoke with News 2 from the Maury County Jail. The shooting deaths of 46-year-old John Bidle and 51-year-old Stacie Wright rocked a quiet Columbia neighborhood last week. Byron Childers was taken into custody in connection with the case and he told News 2 that he wants to share his side of the story. RELATED: Neighbors rally to support family of man killed in Columbia shooting 'I'm horribly sorry,' Childers said. 'That was not me. That was something else. It was not me.' On Saturday, May 31, a typically quiet Columbia community was chaos. Police said Childers was walking along Somerset Lane with a rifle when he shot Bidle. Then, upon hearing the gunshots, police said Wright opened the door of her nearby home and was shot several times. When asked about motive, Childers said that he did not want to talk about it. 'I'm not — I don't want to talk about this now,' Childers told News 2. 'I need to relax.' Childers repeated his apology. 'Just — I am sorry,' Childers says. 'There is nothing else I can say. What can you say?' News 2 asked about Childers' day before the shooting occurred. 'Hung around the house, organized the garage — relaxed,' Childers said. Childers said he barely remembers the shooting, adding that he was friendly with Bidle. PREVIOUS: 'A heartbeat of love': Community remembers woman killed in Columbia shooting 'He would come down and I would give him fishing tackles, stuff like that,' Childers says. '[I would] leave tackle on his doorstep. We were fishing buddies. [We] talked about fishing.' Childers said he knows he's changed the lives of three families forever, including his own. After about five minutes, he asked to return to his cell. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the case. Childers is being held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
