HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – It’s been 9 days since 27-year-old Andrew Gilliam was shot and killed at his residence at Edgewater Apartments in Sunlake. Now his family is asking anyone who may know anything about the shooter to come forward.
Vic Hartman, Gilliam’s relative, told News 19, “This story is something that only happens on the evening news and it doesn’t affect you personally until it affects you.” I lost my loved one, my husband, my son, my brother.
The Huntsville Police Department (HPD) says they responded to a call of a shooting at the Sunlake at Edgewater Apartments around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4th. When responders arrived, they found Gilliam shot through a bedroom window. HPD said Gilliam later died at the hospital.
Huntsville police said several apartments were shot, but Gilliam was the only person injured.
At this time, Huntsville police have not released any information on the suspect and say information is limited.
“We have a few leads, but it’s very limited information, certainly no witnesses that we know of at this time,” said Sgt. Huntsville Police Department Major Crimes Supervisor Jack Pugh told News 19.
Hartman said the family wants to move on and is asking anyone with information about what happened.
“The biggest chance of solving this problem would be for someone to transfer the money, show up and give the note,” Hartman said. He said information can be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The Crimestoppers phone number is 256-53-CRIME (27463). You can also call the Huntsville Police Department at 256-722-7100.
Hartman said there is a substantial financial reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest.
“Crimestoppers has $1,000 and our fund is $10,000, so if you have any information, whoever donates will get $11,000,” he said.
Hartman told News 19 that he is holding on to his faith and has a bright future ahead of him:
“He was literally a rocket scientist,” she said. “He was a contract aerospace engineer with NASA, an amazing young professional with his whole life ahead of him.”
News 19 reached out to Andrew Gilliam’s employer to learn more about his work.
“He was a rising star in the Valve, Actuator, Line and Duct Development Division within MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center),” Qualis Corporation said in a statement sent to News 19.
The statement says Gilliam worked on the engine valves on Artemis I center stage.
The statement was made in collaboration with Gilliam’s executives. You can read the full statement below:
“Andrew Gillam was an employee of Qualis Corporation, which supported the Jacobs Space Research Group at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Andrew was hired as a fixture design engineer in October 2019. He was a rising star in valve, actuator, line and pipeline development within MSFC. He was a brilliant young engineer with an excellent technical mind and exceptional ability to focus and detail. Artemis 1 is currently assigned to monitor valve operation of the RS-25 engine in the Core Stage. The RS-25 is the large rocket engine that powers the Artemis rocket and is used in its 4 main stages.
Andrew worked as a data analyst, supporting many of the single-engine warm-up tests leading up to the Artemis 1 mission’s maiden voyage. During the launch countdown, Andrew worked at the console of the Huntsville Operations Support Center, monitoring engine valve operation during the sequence of events leading to engine ignition and during the flight of the Artemis vehicle. 1.
Andrew will be remembered as an intelligent young man whose contributions, not only at work, but throughout the community, will be sorely missed. His love and devotion showed in everything he did. Qualis and the JSEG team continue to be in touch with and support the family. Qualis currently offers the resources of the Employee Assistance Program to help employees cope with such a tragic situation, and JSEG also provides positive mental health champions to all ESSCA employees.“
– James Bruce, Director of NASA Programs, Qualis Corporation
While Andrew Gilliam’s death remains unsolved, the Huntsville Police Department told News 19, “At this time, investigators have no reason to believe there is an immediate threat to the public.”
An HPD spokesperson said “investigators are working hard on the case to bring closure to the family.”
Again, if you have any information that could help in this case, you can call Huntsville Police at 256-722-7100.
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