The Greensboro Police Department has announced that a 27-year-old man faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with two separate killings in Greensboro and Colfax.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Jose Cristian Bravo-Martinez. He was apprehended following a brief pursuit and charged with two murders stemming from unrelated shootings occurring one week apart. Investigators say Bravo-Martinez fatally shot 26-year-old Joaquín Gabriel Hernandez outside a residence on Upland Drive in Greensboro on November 16, following a domestic dispute. On November 23, deputies discovered 47-year-old Derrick Lamont Leach deceased inside a Colfax home. Bravo-Martinez allegedly stole cell phones and a vehicle from witnesses before fleeing the scene. He was subsequently captured, denied bond, and placed under an immigration detainer. His next court appearances are scheduled for January 21 and January 30, 2026.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, there were 860 reported homicides statewide in 2024, marking a modest decline of 3% from the previous year. However, Guilford County recorded one of the highest violent crime rates in the state, with over 1,100 aggravated assaults and 28 homicides, underscoring ongoing urban crime challenges in the Triad region.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data for 2023 indicates that firearm-related homicides constituted approximately 78% of all murders nationwide. Most gun crimes involved handguns, and in nearly 60% of these cases, suspects were known to the victims — consistent with patterns observed in domestic and interpersonal violence incidents similar to those in Greensboro and Colfax.
The Greensboro Police Department was established in 1889 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. It serves one of the state’s largest metropolitan areas with more than 600 sworn officers responsible for public safety, crime prevention, and criminal investigations throughout Guilford County. The department collaborates with regional and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, to address violent crime and enhance community policing initiatives.
