Gerald Dewayne Stewart was killed while defending his business in the early morning of March 6, 2021. The 50-year-old owner and operator of Best Deal Auto on Elmore Road in Memphis was alerted by an alarm at about 4:15 a.m. and went to investigate a possible break-in. He confronted people who were stealing catalytic converters; during the confrontation one of the suspects produced a firearm and shot Stewart multiple times.

His girlfriend performed CPR at the scene and he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police released surveillance footage showing the suspects leaving in a white mid-size vehicle, and the Memphis Police Department opened a homicide investigation. No arrests have been announced, and the case remains under investigation while Stewart’s family and community await answers, a situation further complicated by legal disputes over his estate.

If anyone saw activity near Best Deal Auto on Elmore Road around 4 a.m. on March 6, 2021, or recognizes the vehicle in the footage, please share what is known.