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.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 27-year-old Monroe Township man has been charged in connection with the death of 15-year-old Trenton Grant and the serious injuries suffered by the teenager’s mother and stepfather following a violent stabbing incident in Monroe Township, Michigan.
Tyson Alexander Grant faces six criminal charges stemming from an incident reported during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 17, in the 1200 block of Raintree Boulevard, according to Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorkey.
The charges include open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of carjacking, and one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or other first responder.
According to the prosecutor’s office, each of the first five charges carries a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. The charge of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or first responder carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Authorities were dispatched to the Raintree Boulevard area on October 17 after receiving a report of a stabbing.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered multiple people suffering from lacerations and stab wounds. They also found the body of 15-year-old Trenton Grant.
Several people were transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators subsequently began treating the teenager’s death as a homicide.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing and the injuries sustained by the other victims.
Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Tyson Alexander Grant and the victims.
According to the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Tyson Alexander Grant is currently hospitalized in Lucas County, Ohio, with injuries stemming from the incident.
Prosecutors intend to seek his extradition to Monroe County after he is discharged from the hospital so the criminal proceedings can move forward.
As of the latest information provided by prosecutors, a date for Grant’s initial court appearance has not been scheduled.
The six charges reflect the allegations filed against Grant. The case remains subject to the judicial process, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Authorities have not provided additional details about the events leading up to the stabbing or the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s injuries.
The investigation and court proceedings are expected to provide further information as the case develops.