PRE-HOLIDAY SALES

Jonathan Betz reports

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GARLAND - Months after two Garland musicians were murdered, the spotlight has once again shined on the studio where the men were killed while walking outside.

Matthew Butler, the owner of Zion Gate Records, and his engineer, Stephen Swan, were shot to death in the early morning hours of June 19.

Since that tragic day, Chris Chism - a friend of Butler's - has become the first artist to record for the studio. Motivated by his loss, Chism said he wrote Leave a Legacy to honor his friends.

"To get into the doors of the studio, we have to walk over the spot where Matt was murdered [and] where Steve was murdered," Chism said. "It makes what we're doing that much more important."

Butler's faith motivated him to build the studio. Now, Chism said his friend would be proud his songs are getting play on Christian radio stations.

"It's to carry on Matt's dream, and ultimately Christ's dream," he said.

James Broadnax and Demarius Cummings were arrested for the murders. The men admitted the murders were the result of a random robbery.

Theresa Butler, Matthew's mother, said not continuing her son's dream would have only added to the tragedy.

"... It's what Matthew would have wanted, and what God have wanted," she said.

E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com