Tad Leonard Anderson Jr., 35, a lifelong Columbia County resident, was shot and killed in White Springs, Florida, during an organized block party that began January 2, 2026. Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire about 12:53 a.m. on January 3 and found Anderson unresponsive with a gunshot wound. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures but he died at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting as a homicide. The White Springs Town Council publicly condemned the violence, and at a special meeting a resident questioned whether the block party had met permitting requirements; the town manager said not all neighborhood residents had signed off on the event.

No suspects or arrests have been announced. If anyone has information about the shooting or who was at the block party that night, please contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Would anyone who attended the event or lives nearby share what they saw that night?