- Victim: Tanner Staggs, 22, landscaper with Dunham’s Lawn Care
- Suspect: Travis Daniel Jackson, 36, charged with murder and assault
- Incident: Dispute over lawn clippings allegedly led to fatal shooting
- Witness account: Neighbor says Jackson fired while standing in the street
- Community response: GoFundMe raised $30,000+ for funeral costs
- Status: Jackson held without bond in Montgomery County Jail
A neighborhood dispute over something as minor as grass clippings ended in tragedy last week when a 36-year-old Ohio man allegedly shot and killed a landscaper working outside his home.
Authorities say Travis Daniel Jackson was arrested and charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault, and discharging a firearm on prohibited premises in connection with the death of 22-year-old Tanner Staggs.
The incident unfolded just before noon on Sept. 18, when Dayton police responded to reports of gunfire on Indiana Avenue. Officers arrived to find Staggs suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
A 911 call obtained by local media revealed the startling motive. “Yeah, it was an argument over grass clippings on a car,” the caller told dispatchers, adding that the shooter remained at the scene.
Witnesses said Jackson confronted the landscaping crew before opening fire. Neighbor Gus Sinclair recalled seeing Jackson in the street with a firearm moments before shots rang out. “Guy lost his life for nothing,” Sinclair told WHIO.
Authorities confirmed Jackson’s vehicle, parked outside his home, had only light traces of lawn debris. He is currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.
The slaying has left both the victim’s family and his employer reeling. Dunham’s Lawn Care LLC, where Staggs worked, described him as a “leader among our crew” and remembered his positive spirit in a Facebook tribute.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share devastating news that one of our team members tragically lost his life yesterday while working at a client’s property in a senseless act of gun violence,” the post said.
It added: “Tanner always had a positive attitude, was a good team player, got along well with others, was patient and understanding, and a leader among our crew. He was a young man with so much life ahead of him.”
Community members have also rallied around the family, with a GoFundMe campaign surpassing $30,000 to cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser described Staggs as a passionate baseball player with a love of animals and music.
As Jackson awaits trial, the shooting has stirred outrage over what many see as an incomprehensible act of violence. Prosecutors have not yet set a court date.
