Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan was ambushed and killed on Feb. 16, 2022, after stopping to move a tire placed in the road in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Prosecutors allege his ex‑wife, her husband and an alleged hired gunman conspired to carry out the attack while Bridegan's 2‑year‑old sat in the car.
Mario Fernandez Saldana now faces first‑degree murder and solicitation charges with jury selection expected to begin Aug. 10; two other defendants have separate upcoming trial dates.
Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan was fatally shot on Feb. 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, after he stepped out of his Volkswagen Atlas to move a tire placed in the middle of the road. Prosecutors say the tire was a deliberate ruse to force him from the vehicle so an assailant could ambush him while his 2-year-old daughter sat in a rear car seat.
Bridegan, 33, a father of four, was struck multiple times and died at the scene. Authorities allege the killing was arranged by his ex-wife, her then‑husband, and a man they allegedly hired to carry out the attack. The case has drawn wide attention because of the alleged ambush method, the involvement of a high‑profile tech executive, and the presence of a young child in the vehicle.
Mario Fernandez Saldana, 38 — Arrested March 16, 2023. Prosecutors recently dropped two charges (conspiracy to commit murder and child abuse), but Saldana remains charged with first‑degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection in his trial is expected to begin Aug. 10.
Henry Tenon, 65 — Arrested January 2023 and initially identified by investigators as the alleged gunman. Court records list charges including first‑degree murder, child abuse, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact. Tenon initially confessed, later withdrew the statement, and pleaded not guilty in February 2026. His trial is currently scheduled for March 2027.
Shanna Gardner‑Fernandez, 39 — Bridegan's ex‑wife, arrested August 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to counts that include first‑degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse. Prosecutors allege she conspired with Fernandez over child custody disputes.
Prosecutors say the ambush was driven by disputes over child custody. They allege Fernandez hired Tenon, one of his tenants, to carry out the killing, using the tire as a trap to force Bridegan to exit his vehicle.
Saldana is the first of three defendants to go on trial in this matter; jury selection for his trial is expected to begin Aug. 10. Gardner‑Fernandez's trial jury selection is scheduled to begin Aug. 31. Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Note: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The account above reflects allegations and public court records.
Source: Court records and reporting on the ongoing investigation and hearings.
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