Brenda Tackett, 54, of Bristol, Virginia, was one of two people killed during a violent shooting and a subsequent hours-long standoff at the Extended Stay America Suites on Salem Drive near I-81 Exit 7 in the early morning of August 23, 2026. Investigators said both Tackett and 35-year-old Andrea Mallory suffered apparent gunshot wounds; one victim was found in the hotel parking lot and the other inside a hotel room, though authorities did not specify which location applied to Tackett.

The incident began around 2:40 a.m. after reports of a man armed with a gun. Officers coming onto the scene found the two victims and were then fired upon from a ground-floor room. Police identified 47-year-old Antonio Alonzo Megginson of Bristol as the armed suspect; authorities estimated roughly 30 to 40 rounds were fired during the confrontation. Megginson later barricaded himself, leading to a tactical response and his surrender at about 9:04 a.m.

Virginia State Police took the lead on the investigation and later filed 19 charges against Megginson, including two counts of aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of Tackett and Mallory, plus multiple firearm and attempted-murder counts related to shots fired at officers.

Did anyone in the Bristol area know Brenda Tackett or have information about her movements on August 23?