A routine traffic stop in downtown Memphis led police to a tragic discovery on Thursday. Officers pulled over a Louisiana man. Upon inspection, they found his deceased wife sitting in the front passenger seat.

According to local news station WREG, the suspect, 50-year-old Tyronne Brazille, was arrested after officers discovered 50-year-old Lanessa Bradford dead from an apparent gunshot wound inside the vehicle.

According to Baton Rouge investigators, the tragic chain of events began roughly 400 miles away at Independence Community Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Authorities say an argument broke out between the couple at the park. After that, Brazille allegedly shot and killed his wife.

After committing the fatal shooting, Brazille reportedly propped Bradford’s body up in the passenger seat and drove for at least five hours through multiple states before being stopped by law enforcement officers in Memphis, Tennessee.

A longtime friend of Bradford revealed that the victim was preparing to quietly escape the troubled marriage before she was killed. Shelicka Decker told the outlet that the couple had been married for years. However, their relationship recently hit a rough patch after Brazille experienced severe mental health issues.

Bradford, who worked at a Baton Rouge elementary school, confided to Decker last month that she was planning to leave him. According to Decker, the victim saved money and arranged to relocate near family out of town without leaving a trace.

In prior attempts to end the relationship, Brazille repeatedly threatened to end his own life or hers. Despite those threats, Decker said

Brazille had never physically harmed Bradford until two or three months ago. The acquaintance expected Brazille to harm himself rather than turn the violence toward his wife.

Brazille was booked by Memphis police as a fugitive from justice and is scheduled to appear in court Monday as he awaits extradition to Louisiana.

Upon his return to Louisiana, authorities expect to formally charge Brazille with murder in connection with the death of his spouse.

The community is in mourning following the sudden and tragic passing.

“My heart is broken. I’m so so sorry friend, when you saw one you saw us all. I can’t take this one and I’m a VERY hard person to break BUT THIS HURTS I just wish you followed thru with your plans to leave. You’re with the one person who you couldnt live without.. your mom has you now, OH MY GOSH,” Decker wrote on Facebook.

“I would stop at your job every other day just to run it with you like it was the old days, ” another acquaintance added.

“Never had I thought I would wake up to this… LaNessa Bradford you touch a lot of ppl lives for the Good and will be greatly missed. Lord, be close to every heart grieving right now. Bring peace, strength, and comfort to her family mourning their loved one. Remind them that love never dies and that You are near to the brokenhearted. Amen..”

“Im so sorry and angry this happened to Lanessa!! She always looked after my grandbabies at school. She will be deeply missed by everyone. My thoughts and prayers goes out to you , her family, friends and associates..RIP Nessa,” a separate acquaintance chimed in.

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public record.