Adrian McLean, a 40-year-old Jamaican man, has been convicted of first-degree murder and several counts of aggravated robbery in connection with a violent incident in 2024 at the Cedar Creek Marina restaurant in Wilson County. According to a report by WSMV, McLean partook in an armed robbery during which Bailey Gardner, an innocent bystander, was fatally shot while waiting in his car.
Sentenced to a mandatory life sentence for the murder, McLean awaits separate sentencing for the robbery charges, set for January of the following year. As reported by Main Street Media, the crime occurred in the late hours of June 29, 2024. The staff of the marina's restaurant were ambushed and forced to open a safe, suffering assault during the robbery that preceded the tragic shooting.
The combined efforts of the Wilson County Sheriff's Office and Mt. Juliet Police Department culminated in McLean's conviction. "This was a coordinated investigation by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Mt. Juliet Police Department, both of which did an outstanding job," District Attorney Jason Lawson was quoted by WSMV. The operation involved numerous witnesses who testified, contributing to McLean's conviction.
While McLean's arrest on July 17, 2024, in Nashville brought some closure, two other suspects remain at large. A $15,000 reward has been offered in exchange for information leading to their arrest and prosecution, a detail confirmed by both FOX17 and Main Street Media. Information can be provided to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (615) 444-1459.
The public is urged to assist in the ongoing investigation to apprehend the other individuals implicated in the Cedar Creek Marina crime. Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan stated in a release obtained by Main Street Media, "This guilty verdict delivers a measure of justice for the Gardner family and sends a strong message that acts of violence in Wilson County will not be tolerated." The statement underscores the local law enforcement's unyielding stance against violent crime and their commitment to the pursuit of justice.
