Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Announces Murder Arrest
On October 21, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3800 block of Pecan Grove Circle in reference to a suspicious death. Upon arrival, deputies secured the scene and the General Investigations Division assumed the investigation.
Since that time, detectives have pursued numerous investigative leads and spent countless hours locating, collecting, and testing evidence related to this case. Throughout the investigation, assistance was provided by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the continued cooperation and support of these agencies.
As a result of the investigation, Joshua Gray, age 24, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, was arrested on December 9, 2025, for the murder of Xavier Branch. Gray was taken into custody at the Greene County Jail, where he was being held on an unrelated charge.
Gray was charged with the following offenses:
First Degree Murder
Breaking and Entering with Intent to Terrorize or Injure
Felony Larceny
Larceny of a Firearm
Gray was held without bond at the time of arrest and during his first court appearance.
This investigation remains ongoing and will continue until all leads have been fully exhausted.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 252-559-6140. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444.
Neuse News is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to provide free, hyper-local news to Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The kind of news our grandparents read in a format fit for today's times.
We provide this by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
