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Dayton Landscaper Fatally Shot in Argument Over Grass Clippings
DAYTON, Ohio (DailyKenn.com) — A 22-year-old landscaper was shot and killed during a dispute with a neighbor over lawn debris in east Dayton last week, authorities said, in a tragedy that has left his family, employer and community mourning a promising young life cut short.
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Tanner Staggs, a recent employee of Dunham’s Lawn Care LLC, was trimming grass at a client’s home in the 100 block of Indiana Avenue around 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 18 when the argument erupted. Witnesses told police that Staggs’ crew had been working nearby, and grass clippings and mud had blown onto a neighboring vehicle, prompting the homeowner, 42-year-old Travis Daniel Jackson, to confront Staggs.
The exchange quickly escalated, with Jackson allegedly pulling a Glock 43X handgun and firing multiple shots toward Staggs on the sidewalk, striking him in the chest and other areas, according to court records and investigators. A 911 caller reported the chaos, telling dispatchers, “We got a guy shot in the heart,” and described the trigger as “an argument over grass clippings on a car.”
Staggs was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. The Montgomery County coroner’s office confirmed his identity and ruled the death a homicide.
Dayton police arrested Jackson later that afternoon at his nearby home, where officers recovered the weapon and several 9 mm shell casings from the street. He was booked into Montgomery County Jail on charges of murder, two counts of felonious assault and improper discharge of a firearm on prohibited premises. Prosecutors approved the murder indictment Friday, and Jackson is being held on $1 million bond as the case proceeds.
Staggs, who had celebrated his 22nd birthday just weeks earlier, was remembered by his employer as a standout team member. “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,” the company posted on social media. “He was a young man with so much life ahead of him. His passing leaves an unimaginable void for his loved ones, our team, and the entire landscaping community.”
Friends and family launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs, describing Staggs as “one of the most hardworking, strong-willed, caring individuals” with passions for baseball, animals and music. “Tanner’s life was taken too soon with so much life ahead of him,” the organizers wrote, noting the profound grief rippling through his circle.
Neighbors expressed shock at the violence that unfolded in broad daylight on a quiet residential street. “This guy lost his life over nothing,” one witness told reporters, capturing the senselessness that has fueled community calls for reflection on everyday conflicts.
The Dayton Police Department’s homicide unit continues to investigate, urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
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