On July 11, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m., officers from the Fayetteville Police Department responded to a reported shooting in the 600 block of Pleasant Loop in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered 83-year-old Betsy Craven Brewer deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
At the scene, officers took her husband, 83-year-old Leslie David Brewer Sr., into custody.
He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.
During the investigation, Leslie Brewer reportedly informed authorities that he and his wife had been engaged in disputes over several years, alleging that she was verbally abusive toward him. He claimed to have contemplated killing her for months. After the fatal shooting, Brewer left the residence to purchase cigarettes and waited until the following morning to contact the police.
In his initial court appearance on July 12, 2024, Brewer appeared lucid and cooperative. However, the assistant district attorney expressed concerns regarding his mental fitness. Neighbors expressed shock at the incident, describing the couple as generally keeping to themselves. Brewer's next court appearance was scheduled for July 31, 2024.
