COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) – A beloved wife, Wabash Valley native, Indiana State University and Terre Haute North graduate, Stacie Wright, is being remembered by friends and loved ones, following a shooting in a Columbia, Tennessee neighborhood.
Wright was one of two people killed in the shooting along Somerset Lane in Columbia on Saturday, May 31.
According to court documents, Byron Childers was walking down the street with a rifle and shot 46-year-old John Bidle multiple times, killing him.
Shortly afterward, officials said 51-year-old Wright opened the door of her nearby home to check out the commotion. Childers allegedly walked toward her front door and shot Wright several times, which was witnessed by her husband inside the home. Wright was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died in surgery.
In addition, a man driving an ice cream truck was reportedly shot in the hip after spotting Childers and brought to VUMC for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, following a failed attempt to carjack an off-duty Nashville officer, who lives in the area and drove over to the scene after hearing gunfire, Childers was taken into custody by the Columbia Police Department.
Wright worked as a talent acquisition specialist at Ultium Cells LLC, a battery plant in Spring Hill. It was that same place where she first crossed paths with Bruno Buchanan, who went on to become her dear friend.
“I believe that what you saw is what you got,” Buchanan said. “She’s a heartbeat of love. I think that it’s not how many times you spend with a person, it’s the one time that you get to meet with a person that you experience, and I believe that that moment that you meet her, the moment that she smiles, the moment that she tells you that she cares about you, makes up for every moment. If you grew up with her or if you knew her, that one encounter, that one moment says all about the person that you need to know.”
Buchanan told WTWO’s sister station, WKRN, that he’s devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Wright, especially considering that she and her husband just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary a few days before her death. However, he said he’ll never forget the joyful, caring, and compassionate woman Wright was.
“She was a bubble of life,” Buchanan said. “I believe that it’s more about just celebrating her life because I believe that she’s done well with her life.”
In addition to her husband, Wright leaves behind a daughter and a son.
“She was highly involved in her children’s lives,” Buchanan said. “When her children had an event, whether it be sports or whether it be a school event, she was there.”
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(Courtesy: The Wright Family) -
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(Courtesy: The Wright Family) -
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(Courtesy: The Wright Family) -
(Courtesy: The Wright Family) -
(Courtesy: The Wright Family)
Wright was also a longtime volunteer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee. The organization released the following statement on social media:
We are heartbroken.
This weekend, we lost a beloved member of our Boys & Girls Club family. Stacie Wright—a longtime volunteer, mentor, and friend—tragically lost her life in Columbia.
Stacie was a bright light in our community. She gave her time freely and her heart fully, always showing up with warmth, joy, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. Whether she was helping behind the scenes at fundraising events or guiding kids as they built birdhouses in Spring Hill, Stacie’s presence made everything better. She truly embodied the spirit of service, and her impact on our youth was immeasurable.
We are devastated by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and colleagues at Ultium Cells during this incredibly difficult time. Stacie touched so many lives, and her kindness will never be forgotten.
She will be missed more than words can say.
Meanwhile, officials said Childers was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, carjacking, assault, and use of a firearm in a dangerous felony. Records show he is being held without bond.
