Brittney Jakeline Gamez Farjat, a 20-year-old woman from Hendersonville, North Carolina, tragically lost her life on July 15, 2022, in Asheville. The incident occurred near Aston Park Tower on French Broad Avenue, where a verbal dispute between Menelik Tefari Nesanet and Donald Harrison escalated into a fatal shooting. Nesanet, during the argument, pulled out a gun and shot Harrison. Unfortunately, a bullet also struck Gamez Farjat, who was in the crowd.
Both Harrison and Gamez Farjat were transported to Mission Hospital with life-threatening injuries. While Harrison later stabilized, Gamez Farjat succumbed to her injuries and passed away around 11 p.m. that night.
Following the incident, a three-day search ensued for Nesanet, who was eventually apprehended by the U.S. Marshals in Charlotte and transferred back to the Buncombe County Detention Facility. Nesanet faced charges of second-degree murder for the death of Gamez Farjat. In January 2025, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to an active prison term ranging from 13 to nearly 17 years. The case was one of several handed over to the Department of Justice’s Special Prosecutions Section due to a backlog of murder cases and a stretched District Attorney’s Office.
The tragic death of Brittney Jakeline Gamez Farjat, a young Hispanic woman, marked Asheville's 10th homicide in 2022. Her untimely demise left a significant impact on the community, with friends and acquaintances mourning her loss. Twana Downs, a friend of Gamez Farjat, described her as sweet, loving, and respectful, always willing to help others. A memorial was set up in the parking lot of the apartment building where she was shot, serving as a somber reminder of the violence that took her life. The Asheville Police Department and prosecutors worked diligently to bring justice to Gamez Farjat and ensure that Nesanet faced the consequences of his actions.
