A Dyer County jury has convicted David Stewart of three counts of attempted first-degree murder stemming from a 2023 shooting at Midway Bar in Dyersburg that left several patrons injured, including one who was permanently handicapped. Stewart now faces sentencing in January, closing out a case that has stretched on for three years since the night gunfire erupted inside the bar.
Jury Verdict Caps Three-Year Case
According to WBBJ, the shooting took place at Midway Bar on Nov. 5, 2023, and evidence presented to jurors showed Stewart fired multiple shots, injuring several patrons and permanently handicapping one victim. Beyond the attempted murder counts, the station reported that Stewart was also convicted of two counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, though a Facebook post from the District Attorney General, 29th Judicial District states he was convicted of just one such count — a discrepancy that remains unresolved between the two accounts.
The release-eligibility figures tied to those reckless endangerment counts also differ depending on the source. The station's report lists each count as a Class E felony carrying a sentence range of 1 to 2 years with 35% release eligibility, while the district attorney's office cites a 30% release-eligibility figure for the same offense. Both sources agree on the classification and sentence range; only the eligibility percentage is in dispute.
Attempted Murder Charges Carry Decades-Long Exposure
Each of Stewart's three attempted first-degree murder convictions is classified as a Class A felony, carrying a sentence range of 15 to 25 years at 100% release eligibility, per the same account. That means Stewart could be looking at decades behind bars once Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes hands down a sentence on Jan. 19, 2027.
District Attorney General Danny H. Goodman Jr. did not mince words about the violence that unfolded inside the bar, calling it “This was a senseless and completely preventable crime,” the station reported. Goodman also commended Assistant District Attorney General Tim Boxx for his effort and dedication to securing justice in the case, and he expressed appreciation for the Dyersburg Police Department's investigative work.
Prosecutor Credits Victims Who Endured Lasting Trauma
Goodman reserved some of his strongest words for the victims themselves, expressing appreciation and compassion to the victims who participated throughout the prosecution after suffering life-altering injuries and trauma, according to the station's report. For a group of bar patrons whose night out ended in gunfire, that participation meant carrying the case through years of legal proceedings to reach a jury verdict.
The 29th Judicial District's office confirmed the conviction in a brief statement posted to Facebook, announcing simply that Stewart had been convicted in the Midway Bar shooting. With sentencing still months away, the exact punishment Stewart will face remains to be determined by Judge Hayes in January.
