According to online public court records, Eric Brandon Garrison, a 44-year-old resident of Lake Tansi, was recently arraigned in Cumberland County Criminal Court following a grand jury indictment for first-degree murder. The charge stems from the August 22, 2025, fatal shooting of 62-year-old Albert Sturgill Jr., who was protesting near the Military Memorial Park across from the local courthouse.

During a brief court appearance on April 14, Garrison confirmed to Judge Wesley Bray that he understood the upgraded charges and intended to hire private counsel. To accommodate the transition to a private attorney, Judge Bray continued the case until May 12. In the meantime, Garrison remains in custody at the county jail, with his $1.5 million bond remaining unchanged.