On the night of July 15, 2023, at about 10:48 p.m., deputies from the Stokes County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 311 Tavern, 1137 North Main Street, Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Officers found 37-year-old Benny Anthony Cañez in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.

Benny Cañez, born July 18, 1985, originally from Tucson, Arizona, was known as a DJ in his earlier years and later worked as a barber. He is remembered for his warm smile, generosity — including giving free haircuts to neighborhood children — and devotion to his sons, Benny Jr. (BJ) and Kortez. A visitation service was held July 29, 2023, in Tucson.

The Stokes County Sheriff’s Office collected evidence and interviewed witnesses; as of the latest details provided, no arrests or public suspect identifications have been announced and the investigation remains active. If anyone has information, contact the Stokes County Sheriff’s Office at 336-593-8787 or Stokes County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8506.

Did anyone in the Walnut Cove area see or hear anything near 311 Tavern that night?