WS Chronicle

Last week, the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) released a video asking the community to help bring those responsible for the death of Theron Thomas Brannon III to justice.

Around 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve 2016, the Brannon family heard gunshots outside their home on Nancy Lane. After checking their property for damage, Angela Brannon went back to sleep while her son Theron stayed up.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

According to Angela Brannon, her son, who went by the name “Tre,” said it was a young man who said he lost his phone in the Brannon’s front yard and was looking for it. Five minutes later, there was another knock on the door followed by several rounds of gunshots that took the life of 19-year-old Theron Brannon.

Following the initial investigation, the WSPD determined that more than 20 shots were fired from the front yard of the house next door, but no motive for the shooting was given.

Family members describe Theron Brannon as “carefree, and easy going.” A 2015 graduate of Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy, Brannon was a straight “A” student who was planning to attend N.C. A&T State University for engineering.  Brannon had a 4 year-old daughter and was an active member of the East/Northeast Winston Neighborhood Association, Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful and their family organization Operation: Community Unity.

Detective Phillip Cox said, “All indications, Theron was a good kid. Never been in trouble. Nobody mad at him that we know of. This is a possible a case of mistaken identity.”

The video released by the WSPA can be viewed on the City of Winston-Salem’s YouTube Channel. Anyone with information on the murder of Theron Thomas Brannon III is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers at (336) 727-2800.