Husband flees into Tennessee River to avoid men who allegedly murdered his wife at Renaissance Park

Crime scene tape blocks the pier at Renaissance Park where a woman's body was found early Sunday, July 16, 2017, following reports to police about a shooting.
Crime scene tape blocks the pier at Renaissance Park where a woman's body was found early Sunday, July 16, 2017, following reports to police about a shooting.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with a deadly shooting at Renaissance Park earlier this month.

Tyree Corley faces charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery after police say he shot and killed 45-year-old Kathy Hardy during a robbery.

Shawn Hardy, the victim's husband, told police he and his wife were on a pier in the park shortly after midnight on July 16 when they were approached by three black males who demanded all of their belongings, according to court documents.

He said one of the men had a goatee and brandished a gun, firing three shots. Shawn Hardy jumped over the rail, but his wife was shot. He then swam to shore and flagged down a security guard.

Authorities arrived on scene to find Kathy Hardy deceased on the pier.

photo Tyree Tichion Corley

During the investigation, police found a witness who saw three black men in a "brisk" and "determined" walk flee from the area toward Cherokee Boulevard and Manufacturer's Road.

Surveillance footage from nearby business also captured the men walking from where the witness lost sight of them to the parking of the Business Development Center before getting into a waiting car that had been sitting with all its lights off until they approached.

Investigators learned the vehicle matched the description of one possibly used in a recent robbery on North Market Street less than a mile from the murder scene. Corley, a suspect in that case, also fit the description given by Shawn Hardy, who identified Corley in a photo lineup as the man who shot his wife.

Police declined to comment on Corley's arrest as the investigation is ongoing.

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