Brandon Hardway, 45, died early on Feb 17. He was murdered by an African immigrant. | GoFundme
Brandon Hardway, 45, died early on Feb 17. He was murdered by an African immigrant. | GoFundme
Brandon Hardway, the 45 year-old bar manager shot on Feb. 8 in broad daylight in downtown Champaign, has died.
Hardway's wife, Erin Duncan, made the announcement Saturday morning on a GoFundMe page she set up for Hardway.
"It is with immense, unspeakable sadness that I share this update with you. Brandon died peacefully overnight after life supporting equipment was removed. My world is shattered," Duncan wrote. "I had 3 beautiful months as his wife, but I was supposed to have forever. I have been incredibly lucky to love him and be loved by him. Words truly cannot describe how happy I was with Brandon."
Fidele Tshimanga murdered Brandon Hardway in broad daylight on Feb. 8.
| Champaign County
Duncan and Hardway were married on Nov. 11, 2023.
Hardway, A Villa Grove native who managed Pour Bros. Craft Taproom and lived in Broadlands, was shot by 24 year-old Fidele Tshimanga of Urbana.
Tshimanga was arraigned last Monday on one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and Wednesday on one count of armed robbery and one count of burglary for, prosecutors charge, stealing the gun he used from a parked car back in November.
As reported in the Champaign News-Gazette, Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead said "Tshimanga allegedly asked Hardway for a cigarette and shot him at point-blank range, unprovoked, when he didn't receive one."
Reports say he Tshimanga shot Hardway in the back.
The report said Tshimanga admitted to police that he stole the gun, which had been reported stolen on Nov. 26.
In June. 2022, Tshimanga was arrested on a charge of domestic battery, according to Champaign County Sheriff's Office records. He was held one night in Champaign County jail, where he is today.
According to his Linkedin account, Tshimanga worked as an Amazon Fulfillment Associate (Dec. 2021-Jul. 2022), at Potbelly's (Nov. 2021-Feb. 2022), at Menard's (Aug-Oct. 2020), at Fedex Ground (Feb.-Aug. 2020), Lowe's (Sept. 2018-Dec. 2019), Chipolte (May-Sept. 2018), Dick's Sporting Goods (Nov. 2017-May 2018), Burger King (May-Jul, 2017) and McDonald's (Sept. 2016-May 2017).
Alerts Sign-up