Chad Edwin Gardner was 26 when he was fatally shot on Sunday, January 7, 2018, in Sheffield, Alabama. Gardner had gone to a residence in the 1900 block of East 17th Street to pick up his children from his ex-wife. A dispute with the ex-wife’s then-boyfriend escalated and ended when Gardner was shot before 2:30 p.m.

The Sheffield Police Department investigated and arrested 35-year-old Chance Brodie Thompson of Florence, who was charged in connection with the shooting. Authorities said the shooting grew out of the domestic dispute that began when Gardner arrived to retrieve his children. The community was left reeling by the fatal outcome of what started as a custody exchange.

If anyone witnessed the confrontation that day or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please come forward to assist the investigation.