Asheville homicide suspect charged with firing into occupied car, arrest warrant says
ASHEVILLE - Police have tacked on a new charge for a murder suspect, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the Citizen Times.
Police charged Menelik Tefari Nesanet, 20, of Danville, Virginia, with discharging a weapon into occupied property earlier this month.
In May, he "unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did discharge a handgun ... into a silver Acura sedan" with somebody inside, the warrant says.
Nesanet is a suspect in a July 15 homicide. He was previously charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. He is being held in the Buncombe County Detention Facility without bond.
The Citizen Times previously reported that when officers arrived on scene that night, after responding to calls of gunshots, they found two people at two separate locations in "close proximity." Both were transported to Mission Hospital with gunshot wounds considered life-threatening, police said at the time.
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Brittney Jakeline Gamez-Farjat, 20, of Hendersonville, died at the hospital.
On Aug. 22, Asheville police spokesperson Bill Davis said that the department has responded to 336 calls for service reporting shots fired or someone being shot in 2022. In total, 28 people had been confirmed shot in Asheville.
Nine of 11 homicide victims this year have died by gunfire, according to police.
Keith Hanson, Nesanet's defense attorney in the murder case, said he expected to represent Nesanet for the more recent charge as well. He declined to comment.
"I will have to get back with you," Davis said Aug. 23 in response to questions about the alleged shooting.
Ryan Oehrli is the breaking news and social justice reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Send tips to coehrli@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville homicide suspect fired into occupied car
