Friends remember UTC Student killed in March

February 11, 2021

UPDATE- Friends and family of UTC student Holman Tanner are remembering him tonight after two people were arrested in connection to his murder.

According to an affidavit, Holman was shot while he was protecting his girlfriend during an apparent robbery.

Courtesy: Holman Tanner’s friend

The incident happened last year in the 8-hundred block of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

News 12 spoke to Tanner’s friends who say he was an amazing friend.

“He never let me walk alone, not even 5 feet across the street. He had such a safe presence and his energy felt like home. He taught me so many things and I wish I would have let him know how much I looked up to him even then. People really don’t leave you when you when they leave this earth. If anything, I have never felt so close to him or felt his love so deeply.”

Jakob Demoss and Israel Ackerman were arrested Saturday and charged with Felony Murder, Especially Aggravated Robbery and three counts of Aggravated Robbery.

One friend wrote a passage about Holman:

Where could I even begin to tell someone about Holman Robert Tanner III? He was walking talking effervescence. He never met a stranger and poured love into every single thing in his life. As cliche as it may sound, there is truly no one like Holman. On March 19^th, 2020 Holman was taken from us by a random and senseless act of gun violence. This day the world froze, and Chattanooga shifted. Holman was the first person I met the day I moved to Chattanooga my freshman year. One of my friends from home was ecstatic to introduce me to who she rightfully so promised would be my best friend. I had heard he was the male version of me for months, and I was honestly terrified. After that day we were nearly inseparable. I found instant comfort in him and I knew our paths were meant to cross. He carried himself like no one else I’ve ever met. Holman somehow managed to carry himself with so much charisma and bright energy while simultaneously carrying himself like a sloth. He had absolutely no sense of urgency and we were late to anything and everything. That being said, he may be late, but he always came. He finished everything he started and was an absolute genius. Holman was a Junior at UTC and majoring top of his class in Mechanical Engineering. I probably would not be in college today if it weren’t for my personal tutor Holman. He had such a talent for connecting with people and getting them to understand what he is thinking. My freshman year when trying to find a job, Holman quite literally forced me to have a “mock review” before each interview. He would get all dressed up, give me a fake interview for prep, then often tell me I did not get the job and to get lost. He never let me walk alone, not even five feet to cross the street. He had such a safe presence and his energy felt like home. He taught me so many things and I wish I would have let him know how much I looked up to him even then. People don’t really leave you when they leave this earth. If anything, I have never felt so close to him or felt his love so deeply. Losing Holman was something that cannot be put into words, but through the absolute darkest trials and tribulations come the greatest rewards. Losing him changed my entire life perspective, and I know all of our friends feel the same way. Through losing one of our best friends we gained some of the greatest bonds and friendships we would have never gotten any other way. All the love around me was something I’d always taken for granted as a simple part of life. Now more than ever I really understand that tiny gestures and simple pleasures make up my entire life experience, and that is not to be taken lightly.Every now and again I catch myself typing his name in my phone or thinking he has wondered off somewhere when with friends. Holman sparked a fire in all of us and that can never be repaid. There are not enough worthy words in the English vocabulary to describe the person he was or the effects he had on people. My words can do him no justice, but if the roles were reversed he would have the perfect thing to say. He was so young, deserving, and eager to experience everything life had to offer. Through the loss of him, I want to be everything wonderful he was to me and share that with the world and everyone I love. Being the things you loved most about the people you’ve lost is one of the most honorable and memorable acts you can do to keep their spirit alive. I hope that I can make him proud to know that those around me could see a little bit of him in me. I’ll celebrate you forever Holman.”

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Two people have been arrested in connection to a shooting that happened nearly a year ago.

According to Chattanooga police, Jakob Demoss and Israel Ackerman were arrested today for the homicide of 20-year-old Holman Tanner.