Crime
Branson Russell Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Alexander Benitez-Hernandez Outside Asheboro Marshalls
ASHEBORO, N.C. — A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred last month in Asheboro, according to a statement from the Asheboro Police Department.
On Friday, August 30, at approximately 7:06 p.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of Marshall’s on East Dixie Drive.
Upon arrival, officers located 23-year-old Alexander Benitez-Hernandez, who had sustained a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he was pronounced dead.
During the initial investigation, witnesses informed police that another individual involved in the altercation, later identified as Branson Russell, had fled the scene in a red Ford F-250.
The vehicle was located a short time later on East Salisbury Street, where officers conducted a traffic stop. Russell was found inside with a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Detectives determined the incident stemmed from an argument between Benitez-Hernandez and Russell inside a business prior to the shooting.
According to investigators, after the argument escalated, Russell waited outside in the parking lot. Benitez-Hernandez allegedly shot Russell in the lower leg before attempting to flee toward his vehicle.
At that point, Russell retrieved a .30-30 rifle from his truck and fired one round, striking Benitez-Hernandez in the back and fatally wounding him.
On Monday, September 2, a Randolph County grand jury reviewed the case and returned a true bill of indictment against Russell for second-degree murder.
Russell was formally taken into custody on Tuesday around 3 p.m.
He has been booked into the Randolph County Jail under no bond.
The case remains under active investigation by the Asheboro Police Department.
Crime
ICE Tear Gas Canister Strikes Family Vehicle in Minneapolis, Six Children Hurt, Including Infant, Taken to Hospital
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Emergency responders and community members reported a distressing incident during ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity in south Minneapolis, involving the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tactics by federal agents and resulting in injuries to several civilians, including children.
According to local witnesses and media reports, after a federal law enforcement operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier in the week, tensions remained high in the surrounding neighborhood.
In one reported episode, residents attempting to leave an area where tear gas was being deployed sought to escape the effects of the chemical agents by entering a vehicle.
As tear gas canisters spread through nearby streets, a family with multiple children, including infants and young minors, was forced to shelter inside their car.
A tear gas canister reportedly landed under or near the vehicle, causing widespread irritation and breathing difficulties for those inside.
Emergency services were called, and some family members — including the children — were taken by ambulance for medical evaluation after experiencing breathing issues.
One infant was reported to have experienced breathing distress and received emergency medical attention.
Reports from bystanders indicated that parents administered first aid at the scene, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a young child, before paramedics arrived.
Witness accounts describe the situation as chaotic but nonviolent on the part of the civilians, with several families attempting simply to leave the area as federal agents used tear gas and less-lethal munitions.
Those accounts state that no active threat to officers was present at the time the gas was deployed near the family vehicle.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the specific details of this encounter or whether federal agents intended to target the vehicle.
The Minneapolis Police Department and federal agencies involved in the operation have not publicly corroborated all aspects of the civil accounts, and the situation remains under review by local law enforcement.
Officials continue to investigate multiple related events unfolding in Minneapolis, including other recent uses of force by federal agents.
Local health officials and emergency responders are urging anyone affected by tear gas exposure to seek medical attention.
Community leaders have called for a thorough and transparent review of federal crowd-control tactics and their impact on bystanders, particularly children and other vulnerable individuals.