Teen charged with murder after man found shot dead in Asheville backyard
Asheville, NC – A quiet Friday afternoon turned deadly in a Buncombe County neighborhood after a man was fatally shot, prompting a swift arrest of two suspects linked to the incident, including one charged with first-degree murder.
Just before 1 p.m. on Friday, deputies responded to a 911 call about a gunshot victim at 223 Oak Terrace Road. Upon arrival, they discovered 44-year-old Jonathan Torres dead from a gunshot wound, setting off a homicide investigation that quickly gained momentum.
By evening, 18-year-old Izaiah Quinn Smith-Sheridan of Asheville was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. In a related arrest, 37-year-old Cory Robert Mitchell Garrison, also of Asheville, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and accessory after the fact.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that everyone sought in connection with the case has been located. Officials credited the swift resolution to extensive collaboration between agencies, including specialized teams from both Buncombe and Henderson Counties.
Sheriff’s units working the case included the Crisis Negotiation Team, Sheriff’s Response Team, Animal Control, and Crime Scene Investigators. Support also came from the Asheville Police Department’s Drone Team and Henderson County’s Animal Control Unit, among others.
Officials have not released a possible motive for the shooting or the relationship between Torres and the suspects. The investigation remains active, but no further arrests are anticipated at this time.
Smith-Sheridan remains in custody facing the murder charge. Garrison, a convicted felon, is being held for his alleged role in helping conceal the crime after it occurred.
The homicide adds to a series of violent incidents in western North Carolina that authorities have been working to curb, with interagency cooperation becoming a central tactic in closing complex cases swiftly.
Key Points
- 44-year-old Jonathan Torres was found shot to death Friday afternoon in Asheville
- 18-year-old Izaiah Smith-Sheridan charged with first-degree murder; another man charged as an accessory
- All suspects located following coordinated law enforcement response involving multiple agencies
