On the morning of March 13, 2024, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Statesville Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1900 block of Gay Street in Statesville, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they found 43-year-old James Adrian Griffin in the roadway with a head injury. Inside the residence, 47-year-old TaSheka La'na Reid Aleryani was discovered suffering from gunshot wounds to her head and chest. Both individuals received immediate medical attention; Aleryani was transported to Carolinas Medical Center, and Griffin to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for further treatment.
Preliminary investigations indicated that an altercation had occurred between Aleryani and Griffin inside the residence, during which Griffin allegedly shot Aleryani. Tragically, Aleryani succumbed to her injuries later that evening, around 7:30 p.m. Following his medical discharge on March 15, Griffin was taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Griffin was subsequently transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was held without bond for the murder charge and received a $5,000 secured bond for the firearm charge. His initial court appearance was scheduled for March 18, 2024.
The Statesville Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit and Criminal Investigations Division continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Community members with additional information are encouraged to contact the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3515. The loss of TaSheka La'na Reid Aleryani has deeply affected the local community, prompting calls for justice and a thorough examination of the events leading to her untimely death.
