A truck driver is dead, shot to death by a man who was caught on film. Now, the suspect is in custody thanks to the driver’s in-cab cameras.
According to Sheriff’s Office in Shelby County, Tennessee, 30-year-old truck driver Dajuantae Stuart was shot to death in the cab of his truck. His body was found on January 8th on the shoulder of I-269 in Shelby County.
SCSO Captain Anthony Buckner told reporters for WREG that the investigation wasn’t looking good until detectives discovered that the in-cab cameras had recorded and stored footage of the murder.
“I don’t know where this case would be if it were not for the video footage,” Buckner told reporters.
WREG reports that the video footage shows the suspect, 27-year-old James Huddleston, enter the truck while Stuart was in the sleeper. It appears that Huddleston shot Stuart once while he was in the sleeper. He then dragged him onto the floor and shot him a second time. Huddleston then apparently tried to drive the truck away but was unable to.
SCSO released images of the suspect to the public. A short time later, Huddleston’s father turned him in to authorities. He has now been charged with multiple felonies including first degree murder.
Stuart had been a trucker for four years. According to his mother, Connie Stuart-Knight, he loved his job. It was Stuart-Knight who first realized that something was wrong.
“We had a routine,” she told WSMV. “He would call me when he was done driving and he would call me when he was starting his day. Neither of those things happened.”
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for Stuart’s murder.
Source: wreg, wsmv, newschannel5, commercialappeal
You have to wonder if this is a manufactured story to get truckers to think the cameras are a good idea.
I have them to protect us from the scams where they cut in front of you and lock up their brakes to cause you to hit them and get a big payday. This happens in cities all over the US. These commercials with lawyers jumping on trucks should be illegal. My lawyer tells me it’s because a truck on the highway is a $1,000,000 guarantee. Many autos are driving without insurance. I recently witnessed a crash and gave the cop the video. It didn’t match any of the eye witnesses reports. I was told it was the best evidence. I was not involved because of my 7 second following distance rule. Without it, I’m sure I would not have been able to stop. It happened right in front of me, and my story didn’t match the video either. I was thinking of stopping, not watching.
They are obviously talkin about an inward facing camera bro
Lmao!!
The first rule of parking your truck is to ALWAYS lock your doors! It’s better to be ready than to “get ready “.
Whether or not the camera caught the sack of shit that killed him, HE IS DEAD!
I have been around trucking for two years, and seen 48 states. You never know what situation you are approaching.
I will be leaving trucking for this and many other reasons ASAP!
It does sound made up
Fake news it’s really happening
Guess you’ve never been to Memphis- cesspool of crime culture. A lot of company drivers aren’t allowed to even park at Memphis or West Memphis truck stops.
Kleveland kid it’s sad but that was my exact thoughts when I read the headline. Our world is sad because if it’s true or not this is digusting!
It was in the news bonehead! His family is grieving! My mom lives in Tenn.
Facts! I am friends with his father. I too live in Tennessee.
What drugs are you on?
You’ve just proven why no one has respect for Professional truck drivers.
Exactly. Most are idiots
It doesn’t stop company from having 50 recruiters working in offices telling potential drivers any kind of lie to get them in a truck with maximum liability on driver for the least amount of pay possible to start, and this bs about making up to. Up to 40 cents per mile,its a bunch crap, up to. 67 cents
You put the s in stupid.
No you don’t.
Only an idiot would make the case of this being proof. No I’m not refering to you. I owned a camera of my own long before companies began installing them. Those, ELD’s, and those ridiculous collision warning systems have no real proof that they have improved safety.
I have an in cab camera in my truck, but it doesnt record 24/7. Not sure if that would have helped if that was my truck
Fake? Oh right, “fake news” type of guy. I see. To believe it’s fake, you have to argue Truckers Report is a fraud. Such a cynical world view isn’t healthy, driver. You’ve bought into the idea that everything is corrupt for some reason. Hmmmm, “fake news” might be a clue.
No I believe it, Memphis is a crap hole, I would never park in Memphis. Ever.
Guys are living in truck 24 hours a day and get paid for air miles. Up to 55 cents a mile. U ask any company to guarentee 500 miles a day. THEY WILL SAY, UR CRAZY. 300 a day in writing and it will stop all detention times being out of control, drivers getting shot. No where to park , tickets ,fines all fall on company driver, yes put in camera and see what drivers deal with Daily for a check .Memphis is a crap hole.
I agree. They failed to mention if the doors were locked, and too many other missing pieces.
so true! I absolutely agree!
You may wonder however, this is a true story the driver was from Hendersonville, TN
That is an unnecessarily paranoid conclusion to jump to.
thank you. even if it is true the number of crimes caught on cab canetas hardly justifies the infringement.
No,the story is real. Same thing happens in my home town, I know the cop who caught him. Beware evil is everywhere
Yeah! I was wondering about that too.
Unless I could see the camera recording of the murder I can’t believe it.
I don’t mind having a camera looking out the windshield or down the side of the truck and trailer but I live in this truck 2 months at a time and we all know that there are at least one or two psychopathic people in every job that are going to be weasels and abuse the system and be looking for shit to move up or get brown points ( brown nosing) , screw that.
What they ought to do at these trucking companies or the manufacturers of semi trucks is installe very loud alarm systems on the trucks that way if someone touches your truck or bumps it with their truck that alarm would go off like one of those tornado sirens, something that would wake the dead and also let the driver have some kind of weapon, like a big massive stun gun that would knock the shit right out of someone ( they should be handed those out at orientation) .
That would help alot.
No, it’s true, and sad. Good thing they did have the camera. I have one in my truck, my company doesn’t make it record us in the cab. It just records our surroundings, because of idiots cutting us off, and trying to cause wrecks!
See, this is why driver-facing cameras are a good thing!
; )
Wrong-O!!!!!
NOT !!
Good, only if the driver can use it during accidents and such. I agree, I don’t want to be video taped all day and ordered to hand it in. Don’t trust me, hire someone else. Use it to protect the driver, not limit him to use any legal means to get his day done.
The craziness had taken over the world.
Us truckers are victims of road rage regularly and the police do nothing.
I carry 2 guns in my truck, one for when I’m out of the truck and the other goes through windows if needed.
Carry if you travel to states that allow it and follow state law.
Unfortunately as a truck driver it is against federal law to have a firearm in a commercial vehicle.
WRONG !!! I’ll give you a hundred dollars to give me the location in a law book that says it’s against any federal statue to carry a gun in a commercial vehicle.
He’s a company fed shill. I carry EVERYWHERE.
Need to be in lock case, need to inform local police if parked for any length of time. Been there done that, even with military escort, same rules.
Only if you are convict other wise get a cow permit an you can
Your “driver manager” tell you that?
You are mistaken.
Absolutely 1000% incorrect. The only thing that prevents drivers from carrying is individual state laws and company policies. Please do some research.
There is no mention of any prohibition on carrying anymore. Try reading the book
That is not true, there is NO federal law that prohibits you from carrying a firearm in a commercial vehicle. You DO have to follow state laws though.
Me either. You have to do the research of the area your are stayin in and look at the crime rate and the statistics. Oh yeah and thank the federal government and ATRI for these freakin electronic logs that we are on now. Drivers death rate has went up 30 % since e-logs went in effect. Oh but that’s right the bosses don’t give a shit because they are home safely screwing their wives while the trucker makin him money is putting his/her life on the line everyday he/she gets behind the wheel.
No it is NOT!!
Wrong no such federal law.
I am an owner operator and even I have driver facing cameras in my truck. Tucked nicely away so you can’t really see or get at them either if you tried to get rid of it. Its my choice to have it because its dumb not to have them.
Its not connected to the internet, nor would I ever allow one to be inside the cab. I would never work for a company that had access to it either, though if they had it in there it wouldn’t bother me, so long as I control its access.
However, these cameras can protect your CDL and your Career if you are in an accident or if you are falsely given a “using a handheld device” ticket that’s bogus, no seatbelt tickets etc where the officer may just be trying to meet his quota or being a jerk.
I had an incident several months back. I drive linehaul overnight and someone hopped up on drugs crossed into my lane, slammed into my trailer tires then hit an O/O head on behind me. Both his truck and the car were totalled but nobody was hurt. The driver and passenger of the car tried telling the police that I crossed my lane, and my dashcam said otherwise.
Later on it was discovered they had possession with intent to distribute, an illegal firearm, and a warrant for their arrest, amongst other things.
The ‘illegal’ firearm caused it all
What kind of camera you have ? I’m in the market for a good device so many to choose from.
I cant remember the name brand, but I got one that has three cameras. One facing back for each mirror and one facing forward. 2 sd cards. Records over itself about every 6 days. Cost around 400. Dont be cheap on the dash cams.
I use Garmin. One on each side looking down the sides, one front and a mini cam on me and the cab. It’s voice-activated and has a great app that allows you to quickly send video files through email or to a flash drive. They’re pricey for four cameras, but not when you justify their value overall. I also have a Lukas 7900 front camera and an HD camera in my Garmin dezl GPS.
same thing happened to me. The person in front of me what’s playing brake check I was not sure if my dash cam was recording so I grabbed my cell phone and recorded it gave the recording can you please CHP I was not cited but my company fired me for using my cell phone
As they should have!
That’s BS and you know it. On the same level as a pizza delivery guy getting fired for protecting himself
You’re a douche’
Some jobs aren’t worth having. Doesn’t sound like you lost much.
RIP fellow trucker and condolences to his family.
As far as cameras I think that should be personal choice not enforced by any means. Cameras might protect you from falsely being accused of doing something illegal but they not going to save your life as we do see in this unfortunate situation. Safety is in our hands and before we go to bed we need to make sure that our rig’s door are locked and we are parked in secure area or at list well lit and public. I do remember time and time again that I use to sleep in my truck with open windows and unlocked doors in many states now first thing I do check that it is secured and locked.
Peace and great day to all out there behind 18-weels!
Well put truck driver,
It hurts to here that a fellow driver has succumb to a senseless crime, my condolences to his mother and family, I have and have had my dashboard camera and inside camera, these are difficult times we live in,on the road driving isn’t the same anymore, it’s gotten dangerous out there,but I’m praying for all the Truckers in the country bsafe please ❤️❤️
Beware all Truckers of any story that tries to convince you that an inward facing camera is a good idea! As for myself, I will never give up my right to privacy! I really wonder if this story is even true!
When did you become so cynical to argue that this publication is a fraud? No offense, but frankly, you’re lacking critical-thinking to believe this is “fake news” in order to push an agenda. Where in the world could you have learned such an absurd …. oh wait … it was Trump, right? Ok, got it. Never mind. Have a nice day.
I kinda thought same thing. Anyone with a smart phone can look it up before you open up your mouth…just saying…https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2020/01/09/man-charged-with-murder-after-truck-driver-found-dead-inside-parked-truck-i-/
My prayers goes to the family of the victim, I can’t see anyone making this up. I only say God help us all. I’m all for camera have one glad it’s installed.
Still not a good enough reason to have driver facing cameras.
Oh yeah if it’s on the news it must be true…..duh
It’s the norm that whenever someone attempts to refute something, they bring their argument to make their case. You have yet to do so.
Yes it is he drove for big M, out of tn,ms. Guy had pulled off on wide spot of road.just off of i 269 just on southeast side Memphis.i run containers in memphis everyday there are desperate losers everywhere.dont get caught slipping crazy country
Politics aside…
Prayers for his family. R.I.P.
When I did long haul and I was on my 10 hour. I would take my seat belt and run it threw the door handle and fasten it in. It is a old school trucker trick. It will prevent anyone from opening up your door from outside and definitely wake you if they tried.
Was about to say the same thing. When I was a rookie, my trainer, a 20+year veteran at the time showed me that trick. It has prevented at least 2 break-ins while on my 10.
That’s a good idea. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the tip!
Yep 10.4. learned that trick years ago. Unless your in a.. Pete or Volvo I think it is, I don’t remember but one has a door arm rest with opening through it.
When are you morons ever going to learn the difference between threw and through and thru
I defy you to put a seatbelt ‘threw’ a door handle
Must be nice to be perfect.
You’re a douche’ really. Get a life…
There never gonna a learn.
They’re.
I have been o/o slash business owner over 43 yrs and I still say to my drivers lash your doors. I have also used that seatbelt door lock myself and still do when I go out.
From TheDon it’s time to start letting truck drivers have full carry pistal permits your out there all alone sometimes nothing around for miles sometimes you don’t even have cell phone service than you have someone break into your truck and try to kill you
Don’t ask permission to exercise your God-given right to self-defense. The cab is your home on the road and SCOTUS has already ruled that a person has an absolute right to be armed in their home. Not saying that you won’t get in trouble if caught in certain states, but better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
Nailed it.
So true, I carry my old pistol, an old 44 mag I had when I started trucking I have a hidden compartment in every truck I personally owned so I could honestly reply to any officer if they asked “Do you Have any firearms IN your truck” I can honestly say NO
dam right
Or try to steal your load and Jack your rig
Its not made up. Thats just Memphis! Crime infested.
I drive truck and school bus. My bus has a f/d facing camera and it has covered my tail twice already. When I found out my trucking job didn’t use cameras, a good 3 way dash cam was my first purchase. I do not mind driver facing cameras but the one I liked just didn’t have it.
Nothing beats the video of the Escalade that drove through a snowy yard to get around me but got stuck on a landscaping rock and the look of complete indifference on my face. Good stuff.
This is sad I drive under camera everyday it’s much needed!!!!
Dad was like o hell no you pos your dead to me you punk …….
That’s a good father. I told my children you will always be my children. I will not cover for you in your wrong doing. My son was had some legal issues not as horrible as this. The police came looking for him. They asked if I knew where he was . I certainly called him & let them know his whereabouts. We as parents have to stand for what’s right regardless.
There are two guns in my truck for just such an occasion. It’s your responsibility to protect yourself. And for all the drivers that say its illegal to have a gun in a commercial truck, I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
I have been pulled over, and inspected numerous times and not once have I been asked if there is a firearm in my truck, and I’ve been driving trucks for 20 years. Just my 2 cents…. take it or leave it
It would only be illegal by a state or local law. Federal your golden, many states have reciprocity with carry permits.
Never my man,no firearms in commercial vehicles. has nothing to do with local state law,its federal law in commercial truck period.but I as well as many of you have said we need a way to protect ourselves from a violent society who pray on vulnerable people or defenseless people making an honest living
Yep this one falls right in line with that video from a few years back , where you see the truck weaving all over the road. Then thay cut to the driver stumbling out of the cab and falling the the ground. Then the cop pulling out bottles of alcohol. You will notice that no other cars go by during the whole video. It was staged people and not real. Thay feel justified in putting out crap like this to try to scare drivers. THAY believe we are all just a bunch of alcoholic dope smoking bums.
“THAY” also think you’re illiterate. You seem to have confirmed their hypothesis.
You know damn well he has no idea what hypothesis is !
THAT’S your argument that this is a fraud? smfh
Question is why did he take his break on side of interstate highway 269 there was truckstop down the road he should stop at
You can probably give thanks the the ELD for that. I hope the family sues the f*cking sh*t out of everyone for wrongful death if that’s the case. 😀
Dude…Come on man
Question is why didn’t you read that the killer tried to drive away in the truck. It doesn’t say how far he got, or if the truck was originally stopped at that location
ELD was not the problem… You can still drive to a safe haven when out of hours… Just put in the remarks that you were looking for a safe haven
Even if a company your with has a no firearm policy, it’s still better to be fired from a job than dead. Remember that. You have to be smarter than policy. And if your anti-gun, then carry a stun gun or pepper spray or take your dog with you, but dont be a victim, whatever you do.
It is not a “murder” until someone is convicted of murder.
Up to that point it is a homicide.
But I guess “murder” sounds more dramatic.
BS. Muder is defined as an unlawful homicide by a sane individual with malice and aforethought. It has nothing to do with an individual being convicted or not.
Ooops, murder..
That was a stupid comment, MGJ. You are mistaken. Reference the legal definition of murder.
There is no federal law against carrying a gun in your semi , only some states look down on it , but most wont bother you over it if you have a permit to carry .
We all have right to bear arms in this country unless you are a felon.
Don’t get caught in Chicago with it.
And do not fly into New York with one. They will arrest you even though they tell you through the airlines it’s legal.
They will arrest you.
That’s what ya get for parking on the side of the damn road
Shut up
Found one of those idiots who parks on off ramps and on ramps a quarter mile from a the damn pickle park
Shut up…
And another
Not a federal statute. Just a regulation. Big difference
Some people need to plan their day much better…Just because you are in a secluded spot away from everybody else, where it’s nice and dark and quiet doesn’t mean it’s a SAFE SPOT…Use common sense…pull your curtains so they don’t know how to attack faster, it will give you time to react when attacked or confronted…
How was he able to enter the truck if driver was asleep unless he left doors unlocked
He must of been real tried, anyone even steps on my truck when am sleeping wakes me up and as far as him getting in the truck and not waking him up I don’t know what to say about all of that, but its recorded.
The truck was parked on the side of the interstate. Not a very good place for a nap. The guy that shot him has the face of a stone cold serial killer.
I’ll skip the cameras watching me all the time, but I’ll keep my 9mm that I sleep with. Someone tries to B&E while I’m sleeping, their getting lit up.
“He would call me when he was done driving and he would call me when he was starting his day. Neither of those things happened.”
Why didn’t he call when he was done driving that night?
I’m wondering how did the murderer get inside the truck without awakening the driver? Were the doors left unlocked?
Leave your truck doors locked at all times…
Lock your doors and carry a weapon. But if your sleeping and they cant break in, whats gonna stop someone from putting a bullet through the thin metal of a sleeper? Do what you can to stay safe and secure, and get right with your creator. There is a million ways to die and one day you will.
This was on the news the day it happened. The police was asking for help back then. Until now. And they wonder why law biding citizens want to carry fire arms. I find it hard too believe this man was able to break into the truck and clime in with out waking the sleeping driver.
We’re looking
Firearms is one word
The to your looking for has one o
Climb
Without is one word
You are definitely a truck driver in the south
You’ve got to be a bunch of drivers that are still to this day blaming the the new driving laws. You should google it before making accusations that this was fake. A fellow driver has been killed for no reason. Check the internet and the facts before jumping to conclusions.
better then having a driver killed then retreiving his body after a week in the sleeper in 85 degree weather .
Why are we so entitled…white people are the owners of this. We are the most Corrupted entitled people on this planet, We created Haltered, Slavery, Racism, And we are also the biggest group of people that are Immigrants to this country. You take away our Entitlement, Wealth and White Collar Crimes who are we….Filthy Animals
Maybe he had sleep apnea, and couldn’t hear anything over the machine.
Well none of you will shit down or stand up for yourselves. After we tried to fight elds, and no one showed up to help truckers get what they deserve. Has anyone protested this called their congressman caused a stink. Nope its every driver for himself. Let me guess you can’t afford to shut down. Or it wouldn’t help anyway. We need federal concealed carry law passed for cdl holders. Give us an fbi background check if we pass we can take a gun anywhere. Also make it a federal crime 5 years imprisonment to break into a commercial vehicle. Such a sad story. Im very sorry for this man and his family. Unfortunately this industry dosen’t care about drivers anymore.
I see a great debate on this posting about why was he sleeping on the side of the road? If his routine was to call home when he shutdown, why didn’t he call? How did his attacker get into the truck?
If you look at all these questions together, a theory emerges.
How many of us have stopped to pick up a stranded motorist? Or some poor slob walking down the shoulder in the middle of nowhere? All it would take is an abandoned car on the side of the road, and some guy, maybe with a gas can walking down the shoulder.
That would explain why he was on the shoulder, why he didn’t call home, and how the attacker gained access to the cab. From what I read, nowhere did it say he was sleeping, just that he was shot in the sleeper, exactly where your body would fall if you were shot while standing between the front seats to open the passenger side door. Just sayin…
Doyle, there is no law that says you can’t have a firearm in your truck. But you had better know the laws in the state you are traveling in. I’ve been driving 42 years, and have carried every one of them.
On the camera’s, I have one racing in and.out at the same time. Doesn’t bother me one way.or the other. Another 6 months or so and I’m done anyway. I hope y’all keep it between the lines. Stay safe, it’s a crazy world full of crazy people.
Was this a hitch hike he picked up?
If they are so bent on having driver facing cameras in Trucks , maybe they should be just as enthusiastic in putting them in police cars as well as body cams . That way we can keep track of everyone , but I guess the powers that be are not all that enthused when it comes to monitoring themselves and all the world to see .
its the company that will not allow firearms in trucks not the federal goverment
2020, can’t we all just get along?
We’re all just people going in the same direction anyway when it all ends, different cemeteries or maybe some may choose an URN ⚱️.
This sounds like a DRUG DEALER CAME TO COLLECT, but the driver had the same old empty pockets excuse.
An autopsy and a confession from the killer; will see.
Should the inward camera get the credit? ABSOLUTELY
I work for this company and my prayers go out to the family I am so sorry for your loss! This is a real story and happened and I knew him he was a good driver and he loved his job keep those 18 wheels moving in heaven bro!