On December 12, 2024, 60-year-old Christopher Fitzgerald Branch from Raleigh, North Carolina, succumbed to a gunshot wound. Branch arrived at WakeMed Hospital around 10:16 p.m. on December 12, seriously injured from the shooting. Despite medical efforts, he passed away on December 13.
The Raleigh Police Department swiftly initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Branch's death.
Their efforts led to the arrest of 46-year-old Glenn Levon Strickland from Clayton, North Carolina. Strickland faces multiple charges, including murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a weapon into occupied property, and discharging a firearm within city limits. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the motive behind the shooting or the relationship between Branch and Strickland. Strickland is currently held without bail, with a court appearance scheduled for December 16, 2024.
Court records indicate that Strickland allegedly fired a 9 mm handgun into a Lexus on Mangum Street, a residential area in south Raleigh. While it's unclear if Branch was inside the vehicle at the time, another individual was present. The police have not provided further details about the second person's identity or condition. Strickland was apprehended shortly after the incident, but the specific evidence leading to his arrest has not been disclosed.
Branch's passing has been noted in local obituaries, with arrangements for his memorial services yet to be announced. The community remains in mourning as they await further information from law enforcement regarding the case. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with pertinent information to come forward to assist in bringing clarity and justice to this tragic event.
