On October 21, 2024, deputies from the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Pecan Grove Circle in La Grange, North Carolina, after reports of a possible cardiac arrest and found 32-year-old Xavier Shamael Branch deceased. Known affectionately as BigZay, Branch was a well-known barber in the community, a devoted father to two children, Messiah and Za’Riah, and remembered for his vibrant personality, love of cooking, and distinctive sense of style. The circumstances of his death prompted authorities to open a homicide investigation.

Neighbors described the discovery as unsettling in an area they usually consider quiet, and local residents say the loss has heightened concerns about safety. No arrests have been announced and no suspects have been publicly identified; the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to come forward. Did anyone in La Grange know Xavier or see anything on October 21 that might help the investigation?