Arrests still pending in Fayetteville teen murder case
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Arrests are still pending in the weekend shooting death of a 16-year-old boy, and that is causing family and law enforcement frustration.
Joseph Braxton III was gunned down Saturday evening along Randleman Street. The Seventy-First High School freshman was headed to a sweet sixteen party.
Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock said there were at least 20 eyewitnesses, but getting them to come forward has been a challenge.
"We have a lot of young folks who probably have some video, who probably have some photos, and certainly have some eyewitness accounts that are not coming forward to help us," he told ABC11 on Monday.
Law enforcement and family members have said they know who was behind Braxton's shooting. Earlier in the week, his siblings, mother and aunt said three young people involved are also students at Seventy-First High School.
On Wednesday, as white flowers sat on Braxton's family's front porch, his aunt said the family is searching for peace, but can't help but feel frustration.
"If there are killers on alert and you know who they are, retain them until your evidence is together," said Melissa Brown. "Because it's rough. It's rough on other kids, other siblings [and] other family members definitely knowing the murderers are still lurking."
Security at Seventy-First High School will remain heightened until arrests are made. Students and staff are still being encouraged to seek the help of campus grief counselors.
Medlock, as he routinely has in the past, also expressed frustration this week with young people carrying firearms, and the lack of parental supervision.
"Parents don't know where their children are. They're not supervising them properly, and they're not properly managing their children's behavior," Medlock said. "So now again, we have another child, a 16-year-old child, in our city who is dead."
Braxton's family plans to bury him late next week. Brown said his mother, Tabitha Brown, isn't coping well as the investigation continues.
"We just want peace right now," said Brown. "We don't need no extra violence. We really don't need no extra audience. We just want to let our family grieve, and let us be at rest."
