A holiday gathering took a tragic turn in the early morning hours after Thanksgiving Day in 2019, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a loved one. Benedicto Granados, a 30-year-old Hispanic male from Lawrenceville, was visiting family and friends in unincorporated Lilburn for the holiday when his life was cut short by gunfire. The festive occasion turned into a scene of violence, leaving a community in shock and a family devastated.
Just before 3 a.m. on the Friday following Thanksgiving, police were called to a home on Barnaby Court. Upon their arrival, they discovered Granados in the garage, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. Investigators believe that Granados was the intended target of the shooting, which is thought to have stemmed from an argument that escalated to deadly violence.
In the days following the shooting, Gwinnett County police identified a suspect in the case. An arrest warrant was issued for 28-year-old Eriberto Villanueva of Atlanta. He is facing charges of felony murder and aggravated assault in connection with the death of Benedicto Granados. Law enforcement officials have asked for the public's assistance in locating Villanueva.
