On August 31, 2017, 18-year-old Branique Stephan McKnight, a young African American male from Conover, NC, was tragically shot and killed at an apartment complex in Hickory, NC. The incident occurred around 4 p.m., and police responded to the scene shortly after. Alongside McKnight, 20-year-old Janarion Kaverio Knox, also an African American male from Hickory, was found dead in the apartment.
Witnesses reported hearing seven gunshots and seeing a car leave the scene.
The investigation led to the arrest of 19-year-old Daniel Jeremiah Minton, who turned himself in to the authorities the following day. Minton was charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of McKnight and Knox. Additionally, 20-year-old Maurice Craig Brown was arrested and charged with two counts of accessory after the fact to murder. Brown received a $400,000 secured bond, while Minton remained in jail.
The case garnered significant attention, with family members and the community expressing their grief and desire for justice. Jessica Wilson, a relative of Knox, emphasized the family's devastation and hope for justice to be served. The court proceedings for Minton and Brown were scheduled to continue, with both men set to appear in court on September 22.
