On the morning of December 11, 2025, a violent tragedy unfolded at the Tri-River Alcohol Safety Action Program office located in the 3000 block of George Washington Memorial Highway in Hayes, Virginia. Emergency communications received a distress call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting that a person had been found unresponsive inside the building.
Responding deputies from the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office arrived to find the body of 43-year-old male Branden Patrick Green, the Executive Director of the agency, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The area was immediately secured, and nearby schools were placed on a temporary secure status as law enforcement launched a manhunt for the perpetrator who had fled the scene.
Investigators quickly pieced together the events leading up to the homicide using witness statements and surveillance footage from the office. The video reportedly captured a man entering the front office and firing nine shots at the victim in what authorities described as a fit of rage. The assailant then walked past another employee, entered his vehicle, and drove away. The suspect was identified as 66-year-old Steve A. Curry of Lancaster County. Court documents later revealed that the shooting was likely motivated by a probation dispute; Curry had been convicted of driving while intoxicated and was court-ordered to complete the alcohol safety program. Two days prior to the incident, he had been informed he would be issued a violation for failing to comply with counseling requirements, at which point he allegedly threatened to handle the matter with the company's owner.
Coordination between the Gloucester County and Lancaster County Sheriff's Offices led deputies to Curry's residence on Riverwood Drive in Lancaster County. At approximately 10:19 a.m., less than two hours after the shooting, Curry was apprehended at his home and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Gloucester County Jail where he was held without bond. Curry was charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, with a preliminary court hearing scheduled for January 2026.
Beyond the headlines of the crime, the loss was deeply felt by the community and the victim's family. Green was a dedicated public servant and a decorated United States Army veteran who had served a combat tour in Afghanistan, rising to the rank of Captain. A native of New York and a resident of Hardyville, he was known for his intellect and leadership, having earned a master's degree and was nearing the completion of his doctorate at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, parents, and siblings, leaving behind a legacy of service that stood in stark contrast to the senseless violence that ended his life.
